NaijNaira
Adams Oshiomhole isn’t shy about making his views known, and when asked about the emergence of Professor Nentawe Yilwatda as APC’s National Chairman, he didn’t hold back — www.naijnaira.com reports.
During a chat with Daily Independent, Oshiomhole laid it all out — from the background moves that led to the appointment to why the party needed a shift in tradition.
He made it clear that APC didn’t just want another ex-governor leading the party.
“The message is simple — no position should be treated like it’s only for ex-governors,” Oshiomhole said.
Yilwatda didn’t come in through the usual long campaign grind, and that alone made the transition feel different from the norm.
The vacancy came up quickly after Ganduje’s resignation, and party leaders weren’t ready to let internal division creep in.
They moved fast with backdoor talks and consultations to make sure no zone felt sidelined.
Oshiomhole also brushed off suggestions that Yilwatda would be a pushover for Tinubu.
“He’s not anyone’s puppet,” he said. “He’s got his own story, his own depth, and let’s not forget, he’s a professor — not some political filler.”
According to him, the job isn’t just about political weight, but also about balance, patience, and openness.
He noted that being a professor, Yilwatda has trained minds, managed egos, and led institutions — which counts as leadership, just outside politics.
Oshiomhole said Yilwatda may not have seen this coming weeks ago, but his composure and presence showed he’s not winging it.
“There’s value in having someone who listens, not someone everyone tiptoes around because they used to be a governor,” he added.
He described Yilwatda as calm and ready to work, especially because he carries less of the political baggage that’s weighed down others in that seat.
When President Tinubu introduced him as party chairman during a recent event, it wasn’t a casual moment — it was a reminder that the party isn’t just a shadow behind government, but its root.
The calmness, humility, and surprise factor in Yilwatda’s emergence may actually turn out to be APC’s biggest internal refresh in years.
