In Osun, Party Stakeholders Dump Aregbesola, Pitch Tent With Oyetola Over Party Congress
The seemingly crisis of confidence between immediate past Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his successor, Adegboyega Oyetola, came to a head on Friday, as party leaders and stakeholders shun the meeting called by Aregbesola and instead showed up at the stakeholders’ meeting, convened by the State party executives.
The stakeholders’ meeting, which was at the instance of the All Progressives Congress, APC National Committee for Osun State Ward Congress, had in attendance all the critical party leaders in the State, including Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, three former deputy governors -Senator Iyiola Omisore, Prince Sooko Adewoyin and Mrs. Titi Laoye-Ponle – and Osun Speaker, Timothy Owoeye, Senate’s spokesman, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, members of the National Assembly, the lawmakers from the State House of Assembly, leaders from the nine federal constituencies in State and State excise among others.
At the meeting, which came barely four hours after Aregbesola had summoned a similar meeting at his Oramiyan House, in Osogbo, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye said the members of the Committee just arrived the State on Friday contrary to the insinuations being peddled around that they had been in the State for days.
The APC Ward Congress Committee Chairman also said that none of the members of the Committee was neither kidnapped nor abducted by anyone as being speculated, saying they arrived Osun late due to logistics needed to ensure smooth process.
While promising that the Committee would do everything within its powers to ensure a transparent, accountable and fair Congress before, during and after the exercise, Elegbeleye said: “As a matter of fact, we got the materials by 5:00pm yesterday (Thursday) at the National Headquarters of our party, Abuja, and as we all know, we have to move down to Osun.
“It was not our fault that we didn’t come here earlier. I want our people to know that I was not kidnapped by anyone. Nobody kidnapped us.
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” We are here to do a very good job and we are hopeful that we are going to get the required support from every member of the party. Osun is peaceful and we are confident of the fact that the Omoluabi ethos which the State is known for will be displayed throughout the conduct of the exercise.
“We are going to be transparent, fair and open to ensure that the entire process is free, fair, credible and acceptable to all.”
On his part, Speaker Owoeye said:”I am confident in the fact that Mr Governor is Omoluabi to the core. That is what we are enjoying in the State. His simplicity has made us to move the State forward.
“Congress exercise is a way to renew all the party excos across the States and to the national level and in Osun, we are prepared to have a smooth Congress across the State and I want to assure you that as far as this State is concerned we have adopted consensus. Any other thing contrary to what we have done here is null and void.”
Also speaking, Senator Ajibola Bashir said: “Although we are looking forward to the Ward Congress tomorrow, to us, it is a very significant and fundamental for many reasons. One, our Governor is a member representing our region on the National Caretaker Committee of our party. So, it is significant for us to work collectively for the success of the exercise here as a vote of confidence for my Governor and competence to the party.
“Secondly, it is also important for us to know that a strong and virile party is essential to the development of our party and advancement and development under the leadership of our Governor. And beyond that, the significance is also underscored by the fact that a date has been fixed for the next Governorship election in the State.
“So, tomorrow is very significant towards achieving the goal of sustaining the power by the political party in the State and I pray we will all achieve that. It is about about electing EXCO alone, it is about consolidating, uniting and creating cohesive and energize the party for the people of Osun. The tomorrow Congress is very important because the July 16th, 2022 Governorship election will be about the last general outing of our party to February 18th general elections.
“So, we should take it with all seriousness. I am talking about the mode that has been adopted. I am a member of Osogbo Federal Constituency Congress Planning Committee, and I know that yesterday, a motion was moved and seconded for the adoption of mode of consensus for the emergence of new executives.
“The collective leadership of the party in the State had spoken and they have spoken for unity. So, as much as possible, consensus will be adopted but it doesn’t mean that we are week to conduct elections free, fair and transparent in that regard.”
Former Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye- Ponle said, “I just want to reassure that we are very peaceful in our State and our Omoluabi ethos will be reflected in the conduct of the Congress.”
On his part, Senator Iyiola Omisore said: “I want to assure the people particularly members of the media that we are for free, credible and all inclusive ward congress tomorrow. We have adopted consensus as mode of conducting the Congress tomorrow.”
