A group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Movement for Good Governance, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not to neglect members of the party who worked consistently for his election and the party in the last elections.
The group made the appeal in a statement jointly signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Segun Adewole and Secretary, Comrade Ronke Babalola, respectively.
They enjoined the President to be wary of those they described as two-faced politicians who worked against the interest of the party during the polls but are now lobbying their way to be appointed into positions, stating that now is the time to repay those who worked for the party.
According to them, there is no doubt that President Tinubu has started on a good footing with laudable policies to serve the interest of Nigerians, noting that the template of rewarding of loyal party members should be applied in filling all the political appointments.
The group while citing the case of Oyo State, stated that those who are mounting the claim of APC members today worked against the party in the last elections, maintaining that most of them do not deserve any appointment at the detriment of loyal party members.
The group said Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, despite not leaving the party during the polls openly campaigned for the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Seyi Makinde, stating that the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief Adebayo Adelabu, apart from dumping the party became the gubernatorial candidate of Accord in the state and described the APC as cancerous during a radio program in Ibadan
It stated further that Dr. Azeez Adeduntan apart from leaving the party also openly campaigned for the PDP during the governorship election, adding that even though Barrister Akeem Agbaje did not leave the party, he however adopted what the group described as ‘siddon look’ which was understandable given the process that led to the emergence of the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Senator Teslim Folarin.
The group disclosed that on the part of Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao, he was the only gubernatorial aspirant who stood solidly with the party and gave his all not only to the campaign of President Tinubu but all the candidates of the party, stating that his contributions cannot be wished away in the succeses recorded by the party during the last elections.
It said, “We want to appeal to our dear President and leader of our great party, APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to thread with caution in rewarding those who worked against the party during the last polls with appointments, to us people who did not work for the party do not deserve any reward but rather appointments should be for loyal party members who toiled day and night for the party.
“In the case of Oyo State, both Barrister Akeem Agbaje, who though employed siddon look approach but did not work against the party and Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao, a loyal party member who stood for its success by supporting financially all the candidates of the party during the last elections, should first be rewarded by President Tinubu before any other.”
The group then called on the leaders of the party that include Chief Bisi Akande; Chief Olusegun Osoba and National Assembly members led by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to prevail on President Tinubu, not to be swayed by the sugar-coated tongues of politicians who do not mean well for the party.
