Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have warned against appointing any the factional members of the party in the state into the national executive council until a true reconciliation is effected.”
The leaders had made reference to the alleged choice of the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, as a deputy national chairman of the party rising from a meeting Ibadan, at the weekend.
The leaders, including Ajimobi’s deputy, Moses Alake Adeyemo, said the nomination of the former governor had led to a lot of tension and breakdown of reconciliation talks within the party.
The party leaders, who met under the aegis of concerned progressives leaders of Oyo APC, stated that the former governor’s action had led to crises in the party.
The meeting, which had in attendance leaders from the three senatorial districts of the state, alleged that some events that were started by the former governor, had caused polarisation, and subsequently, led to emergence of factions in the party.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting said Ajimobi belonged to one of the factions and nominating him as national officer, would lead to the collapse of reconciliation efforts.
Among the leaders who signed the two-page communique issued at the end of the emergency meeting held in Ibadan were Mr Moses Alake Adeyemo, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Senator Ayo Adeseun, Senator Soji Akanbi, Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi, Hon. Lasun Adebunmi, Pa Tijani Balogun, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, Chief Sunday Owoade, Chief Matthew Fashola, Alhaji (Dr) Ahmed Ayinla, Chief Abolade Akinyemi, Comrade Waheed Ajibade, Barrister Michael Lana and Alhaji Olalekan Kazeem.
Others include Abodunrin Hammed JP, Hon Tafa Mufutau, Alhaji Ganiyu Alade, Hon. Samuel Olorode, Chief Goke Oyetunji, Alhaji Fatai Ayanyemi, Alhaji Akin Olajide, Prince C.A. Oke JP, and Hon Oketoobo J.A. amongst other party leaders.
The leaders however expressed confidence in the leadership of the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the former Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, saying giving the position to Ajimobi would further polarise the party in the state.
The communique reads: “We the concerned progressive leaders of the APC in Oyo state received with much joy the news of the inauguration of the reconciliation committee headed by our revered leader, Chief Bisi Akande, a man of integrity, honesty and political sagacity. We congratulate him and members of his team and we pray God will guide them in the performance of their duties to effect their terms of reference in a just, fair and equitable manner.
“In the crisis within APC, Oyo State is one of the flashpoints, and we, the concerned progressive leaders in Oyo State have watched with concern and a lot of trepidation at the widening polarization of our great party in Oyo state. This polarization has made the party to lose the gains of many years of hardwork.
Among the leaders who signed the two-page communique issued at the end of the emergency meeting held in Ibadan were Adeyemo, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Senator Ayo Adeseun, Senator Soji Akanbi, Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi, Hon. Lasun Adebunmi, Pa Tijani Balogun, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, Chief Sunday Owoade, Chief Matthew Fashola, Alhaji (Dr) Ahmed Ayinla, Chief Abolade Akinyemi, Comrade Waheed Ajibade, Barrister Michael Lana and Alhaji Olalekan Kazeem.
Others include Abodunrin Hammed JP, Hon Tafa Mufutau, Alhaji Ganiyu Alade, Hon. Samuel Olorode, Chief Goke Oyetunji, Alhaji Fatai Ayanyemi, Alhaji Akin Olajide, Prince C.A. Oke JP, and Hon Oketoobo J.A. amongst other party leaders.
The leaders however expressed confidence in the leadership of the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the former Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, saying giving the position to Ajimobi would further polarise the party in the state.
The communique reads: “We the concerned progressive leaders of the APC in Oyo state received with much joy the news of the inauguration of the reconciliation committee headed by our revered leader, Chief Bisi Akande, a man of integrity, honesty and political sagacity. We congratulate him and members of his team and we pray God will guide them in the performance of their duties to effect their terms of reference in a just, fair and equitable manner.
“Recently, and in spite of our efforts, at the local level to reconcile these factions, the news came out that a national position was being recommended to be given to a member from one of the factions. This has caused a lot of tensions and a breakdown of reconciliation talks. We, therefore, took a very decisive step by calling an emergency meeting with a view to calming down nerves.
“After much deliberations , we came to the conclusion that a strategic vision of the future demands no faction is empowered with party appointment until a true reconciliation of all these factions have been done. Doing otherwise may lead to a total collapse of the party in Oyo State.”
While expressing confidence that the Akande led reconciliation committee would do justice to all, the Oyo APC leaders further recommended that no national executive appointment within the party be made for now from any of the factions in the state until a true reconciliation is effected.
