A former Nigerian Ambassador to Togo and prominent leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Debo Adesina, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stop some elements in the state chapter of the party from dropping his name to perpetuate destruction of the party.
Adesina, who jointly signed a statement with other leaders of a group, Ireakari Group, said the actions of some party elements in the state calls for concerns.
The former Guardian Newspaper Editor raised concern over the reported establishment of a zoning committee he claimed to have been established is secrecy and without the knowledge of the national leadership of the party.
“There have been a lot of issues raised on the ‘wisemen’ who zoned the state’s party executive offices for consensus in Oyo State.
“The first is: why was the composition of the committee shrouded in secrecy? Who set it up? Was it truly the presidency as some ‘name-droppers’ claim?
“Did the party at the national level ever announce the formation of that committee?
“Can we ignore those who opined that it cannot be classified as a product of any stakeholders’ meeting in APC, Oyo State because of the obvious exclusion of two major zones (Oke-Ogun I and II) that currently have the highest number of party membership in Oyo State, or claim it was just an act of irredeemable omission?
“From another perspective, the committee is seen as a collection of Personal Assistants/Aides (PAs) of a few aspirants and influential members from some zones, excluding others.” Adesina wrote.
The Ireakari Group Chairman also faulted the conduct of the stakeholders’ meeting held in the state earlier this month as well as choice of nominees for state executives and state congress.
“This meeting has been described as a gathering called to listen to a ‘riot act’ because there was no discussion at all! Only issuance of instructions by the committee! In a democracy?
“As noted in many Local Government Areas, the local leader(s) who nominated those occupying most offices at the state level are still unknown.
“The consensus is being queried in some quarters where it is believed that the nomination was only done on their behalf without any consultation with party stakeholders in the affected places.” He asaid.
Adesina also noted the fallout at the Ward and Local Government Congresses where names on list agreed upon by majority were sidelined with a new list of individuals released as winners of the congress as observed is some local governments like Itesiwaju, Irepo, and Ogbomoso South amongst others.
“It is a costly mistake to think that Oyo is cool and calm. It is, in fact, dangerous, and inimical to our party’s success.
“The situation in many wards is so sensitive and threatens to undermine the success of the party in the coming elections.
“Decency was thrown overboard as outcomes of some duly conducted ward and Local Government congresses were overturned at the state level by certain interests against the majority.
“The case of Itesiwaju LGA where the list from factions that were absent at the local congress was published by the state for inauguration is of concern.
“With what is happening in Irepo LGA where the agreed list completely changed at APC State office and other petitions from some others like Atisbo, Ogbomoso South, Oorelope, Saki West, Ibadan North-West and South-West LGAs, among others, call for critical attention in order to promote fairness, justice and inclusion in the interest of the party.
“We believe this attitude negates the spirit of the new electoral law recently accented to by Mr President which emphasizes direct primaries or consensus in a congress setting for choosing representatives at the party level.” He said.
The former envoy raised concern over possible manipulation of the zonal and national offices nominees allotted to Oyo state by those he tagged name-droppers
“The manifestations seen so far on wards, Local Governments and state offices, it will be difficult to doubt the claims that the zonal and national offices or nominees allotted to Oyo State APC have been covertly handled in like manner either as it pleases ‘name-droppers’ or in the wisdom of the ‘wisemen’.
“Oyo APC needs help beyond name-dropping, moneybags or mere propaganda. The prevailing make-believe is dangerous for our dear party.” He said.
Adesina harped on the need to re-order the Oyo APC and save the party from desperate and over-ambituous party members.
“Sincerely, we need a re-ordering in Oyo APC for the better. The current situation portends danger and should be dealt with decisively.
“While a majority of party members believe in the need to build a stronger party for coming elections, the desperate, over-ambitious aspirants must be tamed. Party unity must come first.” He said/
The former Nigerian Ambassador to Togo called for transparency as he pleaded for Tinubu’s intervention.
“Transparency must be the watchword, even as we accommodate people who have gone back and forth, up and down, in pursuit of their inordinate ambitions, only to return to urinate again into the stream they hope to drink from!
“The silence in APC Oyo State should not be mistaken for peace and we plead with Your Excellency, Mr President, to please rescue APC Oyo State from desperate destroyers, manipulators who are dropping your name all over the state but are determined to make the party crash again in 2027.” He added.
While declaring Tinubu’s re-election as non-negotiable, Adesina held that the case of Oyo sate APC demands deliberate and proactive action that wills sustain the party beyond 2027.
“For us, TINUBU BEYOND 2027, of course, is non-negotiable. But the case of the APC in Oyo State at this point calls for concern and requires deliberate, urgent, proactive, realistic, and inclusive approach that will not only win an election, but also sustain the party beyond the victory of 2027, God-willing.
“While we believe that there is no perfect system, the APC cannot afford to build on the sentiments of some aspirants, whose primitive antics of totalitarianism, crude penchant for non-transparency and predilection for sabotaging due process in all things, have been our undoing in Oyo State till date.
“If there is any lesson from the defeat suffered in the 2019 and 2023 elections, it is that our party must tread with great caution and be careful with name-droppers and manipulators, privates parading themselves as generals.” Hee said.
Meanwhile, other signatories to the statement include Mallam Ope Adisa – Secretary, Alh. Waheed Ogundipe – Ibadan Main, Barr. Dimeji Adewole – Oke-Ogun I, Dr ‘Wale Akinleye – Oyo, and Mr Olusegun Adekunle – Ibadan Outer
Others include Alh. Ibrahim K. Ola – Oke-Ogun II, Prince Awoyemi Abiodun – Ogbomoso, and Mrs Adesola Bola – Ibarapa.