A group within the Oyo State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Team 33, has warned Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the state to as a matter of urgency, shelve the proposed consensus option in picking gubernatorial candidate of the party ahead of the 2019 general elections in the state.
Recall that Insideoyo.com had earlier reported Ajimobi had on Wednesday promised to meet the aspirants on Saturday with a view to picking a consensus candidate.
The decision has created tension within the party and camps of all the aspirants except four who are said to have been pencilled down by the Governor as likely candidates.
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The four likely candidates are Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, Mr. Bayo Adelabu, Hon. Isacc Omodewu and Mr. Lekan Alli.
But, Team 33 in a communique signed Mr. Wasiu Ojelade (Ibadan South-East) Abraham Adeleke (Ibadan South-West) and Kasali Adigun (Ido) (Oyo South), Mr. Deola Ajadi (Egbeda), Sola Awobona (Afijio) and Habeeb Salami (Surulere) (Oyo Central) and Mr. Daniel Ogundiwin (Orire), Rasaki Salami (Iseyin) and Muse Salawu (Saki-East) after its emergency meeting in Ibadan, the state capital, while warning the governor to desist from such proposal, declared that such arrangement would lead to confusion.
The group in the communique entitled “Consensus will lead to confusion” argued that members have analysed the consensus arrangement and came with a conclusion that it will further polarise the party.
The group said, “An emergency meeting of our body was today held at Oke-Ado, Ibadan to deliberate on the decision of Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi to adopt the consensus method of picking candidates to fly the flag of our party during next year’s general elections.
“Members critically analysed the consensus option and weighed the consequences. Members came to the conclusion that the option is self serving and detrimental to the success of the party at the forthcoming polls.
“Members were unanimous in their analysis that the consensus option will lead to confusion among the aspirants and party key members. That the consensus option will further polarise and destroy the already fractured system of the party in the state. That the consensus option is undemocratic and has lead to the destruction of democratic systems in times past”.
The group added that, “The body hereby advise that Governor Abiola Ajimobi should as a matter of urgency shelve the ideas of using Consensus option in picking candidates for the 2019 Elections.
“That he should allow a Level playing ground for all Aspirants willing to throw their hats in the ring by making use of either Direct or Indirect option.
“That Governor Abiola Ajimobi should please note that he is also a Candidate in this election hence he cannot be an umpire in his own election.
“That Governor Abiola Ajimobi should allow a Level playing ground in the Oyo South Senatorial Primary Election as an aspirant that he is and not as a sitting Governor as practised in Civilised Democracies all over the world.
“Team 33 further advised that all candidates irrespective of Status should be allowed to go for Primary Election in a free and fair manner.
“That instead of Imposing the Consensus option on the Candidates, Governor Abiola Ajimobi should form a Peace and Conciliation Advisory Committee that would meet with the Aspirants and ensure that they sign a Peace Pact to support candidates that emerge from a free and fair Primary Election.
“Finally, the Body commended the Governor for his giant strides in keeping the name of our great party in Gold in the last 7 years and urged him to thread carefully in this last quarter of his sojourn as the representative of the Party because at the expiration of his tenure, he will be required to render account of his stewardship and according to a wise saying, it is not how far, but how well. A stitch in time, saves nine”.
