Former member of the Presidential Advisory Committee, Tony Nyiam, has explained the reasons for his outburst at the rowdy town-hall consultation on National Conference, which held in Edo state few weeks ago.
Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, on Monday, Mr Nyiam stated that the consultation is for the purpose of meeting with the people and getting their views on the proposed Dialogue and that the visit to the Governor was only done 
out of courtesy.
While narrating the events which led to Governor Oshiomhole being booed on stage, Nyiam said that the Edo governor had shifted his meeting with them which made the Committee delay a 12pm meeting the Oba of Benin had fixed to receive them.
“That made us to look unserious with the Oba of Benin,” he said.
He continued by saying that: Oshiomhole aired his views for about 40 minutes during the meeting which lasted 1 hour.
“He spoke for roughly 35 to 40 minutes, trying to lecture us on how we were mistaken and how unserious it is for anybody to convene a conference without having an agenda.”
He added that the Committee didn’t respond to him and thereafter left for the meeting with the Oba of Benin who said he was praying for the success of the Conference.
However, the initial delay by the Governor led to a 3 hour delay before the town-hall meeting began. “By virtue of this shifting of appointment by the governor, we had kept people waiting for over three hours.”
On arrival at the meeting which was attended by eminent people including ex-judges, journalists, ex-governors, including Alfred Diete-Spiff, the recurring theme of all the submissions presented was that “people wanted a conference of ethno-nationalities.”
Nyiam went ahead to make an example of Governor Mimiko who sat through the 5 hour meeting which held in Ondo state. He added that “he (Mimiko) respected the people to express themselves. He did not interfere.”
After two or three commentaries, he (Oshiomhole) then asked the Chairman allow him make a few comments before he leaves.
“He started casting aspersions and making derogatory (remarks),saying that he can’t imagine how eminent people will be thinking in terms of ethno-nationalities.
Then people started grumbling. Eventually, the grumbling became booing. As they were booing him, it was becoming embarrassing for me.
Hence, Nyiam approached the Chairman and told him to moderate because the governor is not sensitive to the people’s opinion.
“As things were going on, Governor Oshiomhole was not sensitive to what was going on. The thing was carrying on and (I must tell you), I don’t how it came out of me and I said: oh no, not again. In fact, people in the audience didn’t even hear what I said,” he said.
“When I said that, his men charged on the table where I was. Then one (wearing) a black kaftan¸ came (with a punch). When he came close to me, I looked at him but I think God restrained him, he didn’t (do anything), but a younger guy came and then grabbed my stuff (papers).
That’s when I stood up and said: no, I cannot take this (and of course by my training, I couldn’t be intimidated).”
