APC Elders Intervene As Oyetola, Aregbesola Rift Deepens

The elders caucus of the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned party stakeholders to avoid utterances capable of generating disaffection.

TrackNews Online reports that the elders intervention is coming on the heels of a statement made by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

Addressing supporters while revalidating his APC membership at his Ifofin Ward, Ilesa, last Friday, Aregbesola said killers and miscreants have joined the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“Earlier today, I and members of my family revalidated our membership of the All Progressives Congress, APC at Ifofin, Ward 8, Ilesa East Local Government Area, State of Osun. I thank our leaders, members of our party and people of the community who came out en masse to receive me,” he said.

“This registration affords us the opportunity to deepen internal democracy in the party. Our members now have a say in whoever becomes the flagbearer either at the party level or for government elective positions.”

“Though the constitution allows everyone to register as a member of any political party, even if they are suspects, murderers, character assassins, etc., but those who constitute the majority of the party membership must represent the core values of the party. What distinguishes us are the values we hold. We value social democracy to a large extent, (and) liberal democracy and progressivism.”

He further stated that he and his supporters would remain in the party but would not related with people with bad character.

Many have related Aregbesola’s comment to the recent defection of Senator Omiosre to the ruling APC.

In a statement by the Chairman of the Elders’ Council, Sola Akinwumi, the elders also welcomed Senator Iyiola Omisore into the APC.

Akinwumi said, “Our party’s doors are opened to all committed, focused and progressively minded people who share in spirit and body, the vision of our amiable Governor in his stride to take Osun State into her rightful position among the Federating States in Nigeria.

“Finally, all stakeholders are enjoined to stay clear of any utterance capable of generating disaffection and intraparty fractionalisation which shall not blow good for anyone.”

Meanwhile, the Media Adviser to ex-governor Aregbesola, Mr. Sola Fasure, said, “He (Aregbesola) was not directing his statement to any individual, but if an individual feels it applied to him or her, that person should take it in good fate and amend his ways.”

Fasure, who was speaking on a radio programme aired by Race Fm monitored in Osogbo, on Wednesday, also said his principal was never a friend to Iyiola Omisore and was kept in the dark of any alliance with the latter during the 2018 governorship election.

Chief Press Secretary to Osun State Governor, Ismail Omipidan, who also featured on the radio programme, said he would not join issues with Aregbesola over the statement.

He however warned aides of political leaders in the state against fanning the embers of discord.

Omipidan, however, explained that Aregbesola refused to intimate Oyetola of his itinerary before coming to the state for the revalidation exercise.