An Ibarapa-based pressure group within the All Progressives Congress in Oyo state, Right Wing Progressives (RWP), has taken a swipe on the State Chairman of the APC, Mr. Isaac Omodewu, over alleged complicity in the controversies surrounding the planned defection of Hon. Ajibola Muraina from the People’s Democratic Party to the APC.
Hon. Muraina is on his third term as the lawmaker representing Ibarapa North/ Central Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abuja. Reports have it that the lawyer-turned politician has perfected plans to return to the Green Chamber for the fourth time by contesting the next election under the platform of the APC.
The Group in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Tuesday by its Acting Coordinator, Mr. Sesan Ojeleye, and Secretary, Rafiu Ojo, warned that the alleged planned imposition of Hon. Muraina on the APC faithful in the 2023 general election would not yield any desired fruit “as our people are ready to resist the plot using every democratic and legal instrument available to them.
“We appreciate the fact that Hon. Muraina or any other person has the right to join any political party at any point in time if he is so desired but he should be ready to conduct himself in an orderly and decorous manner. APC is not a newly registered party that could be said to be available for hijack at a time party primaries are around the corner.
“It is obvious that he (Muraina) desperately needs a veritable platform to fight the leader of his party (PDP) who he fell out with shortly after the conclusion of the 2019 general election. This must have been responsible for the kind of desperation culminating in offering of heavy sums as bribe to certain individuals who are now bent on imposing him on APC faithful in the constituency.
“We were taken aback when we received the shocking details of the imposition deal between PDP lawmaker and the factional chairman of Oyo APC as brokered by a serving Senator and another member of the House of Representatives from the state. It is regrettable that a man who is fighting a battle of his life to remain in office as the State Chairman of our Party could still be involved in an imposition saga.
“As much as we are not against Hon. Muraina joing our Party, we will like him to exercise restraints and submit to the decision of Party leaders who have worked out a reasonable zoning formula for all aspirants in the the Constituency. What we need in Oyo APC is justice and fairness as this suggests that no person from outside should be welcome into the party if he plans to cause further havoc and thus frustrate the genuine efforts aimed at returning APC to power in Oyo state in 2023.” The Group concluded.
