Notable leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, on Thursday, held a peace meeting aimed at resolving the crisis rocking the party in the state.
The meeting, which was held at the residence of the wife of late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Florence Ajimobi, had the state chairman, Isaac Omodewu, Senator Ayo Adeseun, former Deputy Governor, Moses Alake, and others in attendance.
The party had been having crisis in the state since the congress which produced Omodewu in October. But on the eve of the national convention of the party, a factional chairman, Abu Gbadamosi, was inaugurated.
The state chairman, Omodewu, expressed delight at the move to broker peace, saying that would reposition the party to wrest power form Governor Seyi Makinde in 2023.
Omodewu said, “I can only say we are here to reconcile all members of our party in the state.
“As the state chairman, I will appreciate if the two factions can come together as one, so as for us to end the current administration of Seyi Makinde in 2023. I can assure you that the resolution will favour everyone in the party.”
One of the party leaders, who had vehemently rejected Omodewu’s leadership, Ayo Adeseun, also told journalists at the end of the meeting that the opposition party must ensure that they become united to win the governorship election in 2023.
Adeseun said, “Today, Her Excellency, Florence Ajimobi, the wife of our departed leader, invited all of us to see how we can work together and find a way out of the quagmire.
“We are aware that the national leadership of our party is working on this but whatever the decision they come up with, we need to seek the cooperation of every single person of the party at all levels, from the ward to the local government, and to the state, for us to succeed in our singular onerous target of ensuring that come 2023, the Seyi Makinde’s administration is put to an end.
“We don’t want this state to remain in the hand of people like him anymore. We have resolved and God willing, we are going to work together.
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“The problem we are having has to do with the process that was very faulty, which will be revisited. We have to make necessary adjustments to ensure that we unitedly focus on our challenges.
“Though the challenges are still there, I don’t want anyone to misread us. We are going to set up a committee that is going to delve into the issues that are at hand, make necessary adjustments and come up with unified party.
“All we are saying is that we want arrangements that all of us can work together. We are going to resolve all the issues.”
Ajimobi’s wife expressed delight at the coming together of the leaders of the party to resolve the crisis, describing it as a defining moment for the opposition party.
Ajimobi said, “For me, we have come together as a family in the house of our leader, late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to resolve the issues. Like we agreed at the meeting, there were faulty processes and we are going to come together to resolve it.
“I am happy that I am able to do it, even though I am aggrieved too. I have swallowed my pride and I am here today. I want to thank all my leaders and everybody here present.”
