There is nothing new under the sun, what is happening to the All Progressives Congress in Oyo state is not new and obviously their major opponent the Peoples Democratic Party is witnessing similar crisis but that of APC which few months ago touted itself as a united party is surprising and may mark the begining of the end of the party.
The congress conducted in October 30 further exposed sharp division among the stakeholders in the party and this cannot be separated from ambition and height of desperation to hijack the party structure to fly their ambition.
It is not a crime to be ambitious, being ambitious in life is a sign of progress and but in politicis it is just an opportunity to use political influence to amass wealth, excert influence and enjoy freebiee asociated with the kind of democratic government we are operating in Nigeria
Today the question on the lips of every right thinking members of the APC is either the october 30 congress which produces Isaac Ajiboye Omodewu as the chairman should be accepted or rejected, to the likes of Senator Teslim Folarin, Segun Odebunmi, Alao Akala and others the Congress is legal and should be accepted while the other groups mostly in Unity forum, Lamist and SENACO, the congress is illegal and unacceptable, this poses a great danger for the party
Although the chairman of the congress committee Alhaji Gambo Lawan while dispelling the rumours of cancellation journalists in Abuja on Tuesday “There was nothing like cancellation or nullification but reconciliation among aggrieved parties. The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee Chairman, Governor Mai Buni only asked me to invite all the aggrieved parties to Abuja on Thursday to come and lay their complain” but from all indications members of other factions insisted that there should be another Congress.
Senator Adeseun who spoke on behalf of the other members on Saturday at premier hotel decried the insensitive manner at which the culprits manipulated the delegates’ lists, despite what was sent to Abuja by the State Executives after the legitimate ward and local government congresses held in Oyo State
Senator Adeseun said the list sent from Abuja for the State congress was in complete variance from what was sent from the State, noting that there is a limit to what the party membership could condone.
He therefore appealed to the National leadership of the party to take up the matter seriously and if need be, limit the list of delegates from Oyo State to the statutory number, according to the party’s constitution.
A senior member of the party whose name i wont mention on this article tols me ” Ajimobi caused all this, the people he empowered at the eleventh hour are the ones trying to destroy the legacies the party he built over the years, i am sure if he is alive this won’t be happening, nobody dare work against the interest of the part, he meant well for the party and that was why he apologized and call for unity but now we are missing him, i just wish this will not mark this begining of the end of APC in oyo state, the same element that destroy PDP in 2011-2015 are now in APC and they are doing the same
If this is not resolve in few weeks the aggrieved may not be left with an option than to strengthen one of the existing party or form a new party which will definitely thwart the chances of APC in sending Seyi Makinde out of government house in 2023. Recalled that In 2015, aggrieved members from APC and PDP merged to boost the chances of Labour party but they were only able to win one house of rep and one House of Assembly seat, what led to the formation of ADC and ADP in 2019 is the journey that has started now and it wont turn out well for the party if there is no concrete solution to the challenging issues now. for us to send Makinde away in 2023, APC need a formidable team and involvement of all the stakeholders.
Sola Adewuyi
Labiran, Ibadan
