A prominent leader in Oyo state chapter of the All Progressive Congress ( APC) , Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle on Friday refuted a report , rejecting the alleged nomination of the former governor Abiola Ajimobi as a replacement for Chief Niyi Adebayo as APC National Deputy Chairman ( South).
The party elders and leaders in the state were quoted to have said that the party leaders in the state have rejected the nomination of the former governor of the state , Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the National Deputy Chairman of the party.
The party leaders across the three Senatorial districts had met on Thursday to access the situation following the Osogbo caucus meeting where the former governor Ajimobi was allegedly nominated.
They had called on the National Leader of the party , Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman , Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to ensure that there is true reconciliation of all the aggrieved members in order to move the party forward .
Alhaji Ibikunle, who is the Chairman, National Lottery Commission, in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Friday said they could not have used the word ‘reject’ because they are not the decision making body of the party.
The state party leaders spoke on the heels of the rumours making rounds that the former governor Ajimobi has been nominated to replace Chief Niyi Adebayo as APC National Deputy Chairman ( South).
Chief Adebayo has been appointed by President Mohammadu Buhari as Minister of Industries.
According to Alhaji Ibikunle , what was been said is that the national leaders of party should give the state leaders and elders of the party a sense of belonging before a national position is given to any body from the state .
Alhaji Ibikunle opined that with such a roburst consultation, there would be cohesion and unity of purpose because all the stakeholders were carried along in appointing someone who would further unite the party.
He said as of today the former governor of the state has not deemed it fit to appeal to the aggrieved members of the party to come together as a party as he met it in 2011 when he was elected governor .
” It is the responsibilities of the former governor and the national leadership of the party to ensure that peace returns to the party, through a genuine reconciliation to achieve a united house and make the party formidable to wrestle power from the ruling PDP come 2023. There is need to sure that the party overcome its present challenges , a problem which made it loss the 2019 elections in the state. That has been the concern of party leaders and elders in the state,” he said .
