Communications minister, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, has been warned to desist from making utterances that can heat up the polity of Oyo State.
Reacting to comments made by the former lawmaker that Governor Abiola Ajimobi is planning to hijack the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure in the state for selfish gains with the ‘handpicking’ of council chairmen, the 18 caretaker chairmen from local government and local council development areas of Oke-ogun advised Shittu, who is their kinsman, to “patiently wait for the appropriate time to test his popularity at the primaries instead of disparaging our performing governor,” they said.
Disclosing that Ajimobi is busy with the business of governance, the new chairmen said the governor is in constant consultation with the party leadership as far as political appointments and governance in the state are concerned.
Hear them: “We cannot afford to refrain from reacting to the disparaging comments of the Honourable Minister. As stakeholders in Oke-Ogun zone of the state, we sternly condemn Barr. Shittu’s comment as it is misleading and has potential of causing disaffection between the people of Oke-Ogun and Governor Ajimobi.”
Reacting to allegation by Shittu that they were all hand-picked, they explained: ”The Minister’s frustration would have been genuine and supported by majority of the APC members if those of us that were appointed are neither financial, committed members of the party nor bonafide citizens of our respective LGAs or LCDAs that we have been appointed to man.
”While His Excellency Sen. Abiola Ajimobi and the APC leadership are not unaware of some complaints arising from the recent political appointments, it must be noted that everybody cannot be pleased with the actions and inactions of Mr. Governor. Expressing one’s displeasure is normal in any democratic setup but such action must not be damaging, just like the Honourable Minister did.
“For us, APC is united in Oke-Ogun and Oyo State in general. We thank our distinguished leader, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for the way he has distributed appointments so far. Though every loyal and committed members of the party deserves to be appointed, it is highly impossible at the saame. We are grateful and we also pledge our undying support for the Mr. Governor in his efforts to move Oyo State forward,” the statement added.
