The former Deputy Governor of Oyo State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Moses Adeyemo Alake and other leaders from the party in the state have rejected the choice of their boss, Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the choice to occupy the vacant Deputy National Chairman (South) position of the party.
These Ajimobi’s aides in a two-page communique made available to reporters; jointly signed by some elders of Oyo APC who are mostly from the Unity Forum of the party and people loyal to the late party leader in the State, Alhaji Lam Adesina, also a former Governor of the progressives bloc, said factions within the party must be carried along before any appointment is made in the state.
Before now, Ajimobi has been touted to occupy the vacant Deputy National Chairman, South of the APC as criticisms had continued to trail his nomination days after the news broke that he was being considered for the slot.
The former Governor erstwhile deputy, Chief Moses Alake-Adeyemo; his Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Akin Olajide, his Special Adviser, Political, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle; Senator Soji Akanbi; Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi; Dr. Ahmed Ayinla; Alhaji Ganiyu Alade; Hon. Lasun Adebunmi; Pa Tijani Balogun; Alhaji Lekan Kazeem; Chief Abolade Akinyemi; Chief Goke Oyetunji; Abodunrin Hammed and Fatai Ayanyemi, amongst others called the attention of the party leadership to the crisis in Oyo APC.
According to the elders who pride themselves as the concerned progressive leaders of Oyo APC, “we have watched with concerns and a lot of trepidation at the widening polarisation of our great party in Oyo State. This polarisation has made the party to lose the gains of many years of hard work.
“We cannot close our eyes to the fact that in the course of party events, the polarization led to the emergence of factions.
“Recently and in spite of our efforts, at the local level to reconcile these factions, the news came out that a National position was being recommended to be given to a member from one of the factions.
“This has caused a lot of tension and s breakdown of Reconciliation talks. We therefore took a very decisive step by calling an emergency meeting on Wednesday February 12 with a view to calming down nerves.
“After much deliberations, we came to the conclusion that a strategic vision of the future demands that no faction is empowered with party appointment until a true reconciliation pf all these factions have been done. Doing otherwise may lead to total collapse of the party in Oyo State.
That the reconciliation committee members are concerned with a greater future for APC in Oyo State.
“That the said committee will do the right thing not minding whose horse is gored without any fear or favour
“We are recommending that no national executive appointment within the party should be made for now, from any of the factions until a true reconciliation has been effected.
“We affirm our confidence in all our national leaders. We especially appreciate the reconciliation steps taken so far by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and chief Bisi Akande,” the communiqué added.
