The All Progressive Congress in Osun is set for a world press conference in Osogbo, the state capital today (Tuesday) as part of efforts to rejig the party after its loss of the state in the last general election.
Recall that the party, after leading the affairs of the state for 12 years under the current Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and immediate past Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, lost the last election due to intra-party squabbles.
NPO Reports gathered Monday night that leaders of the party in the state are set to hold a press conference to announce their readiness to move on and commence the process of party reconstruction.
It was learnt that a former Speaker of the House of Assembly who is currently an Executive Director of NigComSat, Dr. Najeem Salam, will lead the press conference with top leaders of the party in attendance.
The APC in Osun had broken into two with party members loyal for the former Governor and current Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, declaring their opposition to the style of governance and party administration of Oyetola.
Loyalists of Oyetola had come under a faction called Ileri Oluwa. A year to the election, loyalists of the Minister also formed a group called The Osun Progressives (TOP).
NPO Reports learnt that part of the intensions of today’s press conference is to begin to promote the party and allow the factions die a natural death.
“Oyetola started it with his Ileri Oluwa and men of good conscience warned that it would lead to electoral disaster,” said a party chieftain who spoke with the NPO Reports on condition of annonimity Tuesday morning.
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“But they also created TOP which they used to make Oyetola lose the election. Now we are all losers,” said a member of the Oyetola faction of the party.
Sources close to the event of today said hence, party faithfuls would be encouraged to promote the party as it was done under Aregbesola and not any factional group.
Already, the leader of the APC’s faction that is loyal to Oyetola, Prince Gboyega Famodun, was crowned as the new Owa of Igbajo few days before the exit of Oyetola. He had handed over to Mr. Tajudeen Lawal.
However, the new Governor Ademola Adeleke has suspended the installation of Famodun as Owa saying the process that produced him and two others must be reviewed.
“So, technically, Famodun is done with APC affairs. He should be pursuing his Obaship tussle while he should allow those who want better future of the APC to proceed with the reconstruction,” said another party leader from Osun Central senatorial district.
Recall that the battle for the control of the party had pitted Famodun against the former Secretary of the party, Alhaji Rasaki Salinsile, who later emerged as state chairman of the faction of the party loyal to Aregbesola.
“There should be a new beginning,” said Elder Lowo Adebiyi, leader of TOP, saying “now is the time for us to let party members come together and move ahead. All party members knew how this party was run that gave everyone a sense of belonging. That should be the spirit now. APC is APC and not any faction,”