Presidential aspirants from the South-West are approaching today’s meeting of leaders of the All Progressive Congress with some elders of the party from the zone with uncertainties over its possible outcome.
Former interim chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande and former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Segun Osoba, had called for the meeting of all aspirants who have declared interests so far to contest the ticket of the party ahead of the 2023 poll.
Already, there are the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Governor Bola Tinubu, former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, serving Governor Kayode Fayemi who have all purchased the N100m nomination forms.
The meeting, according to NPO Reports findings, is holding today at the Lagos House, Marina.
An aide to one of the presidential aspirants confirmed to the NPO Reports Friday morning that his boss had already left for the meeting.
The main agenda of the meeting is to seek ways to prevail on the aspirants to close ranks and ensure that the zone presents a common candidate.
It was learnt that Akande, Osoba and some other privileged leaders of opinion of the zone have access to credible intelligence which suggest that the zone might loose the opportunity should it fail to present a united front.
However, a pro-Osinbajo group, the Progressive Lawyers for Osinbajo, in a statement faulted the modality for the meeting.
It said in a statement by Kayode Ajulo, its Convener, that the list of the conveners of the meeting is suspect.
It said it would prefer a meeting convened by the likes of Chief Afe Babalola, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, Aare Ona Kankanfo, Prof Tunde Adeniran and others,
It said the meeting will not come up with any credible outcome saying already, there is a pre-written communiqué.
It predicated its position on the venue of the meeting, and an unclear agenda.
Ajulo’s statement noted, “This above scheduled meeting should have been a welcome development but for the following configurations which were not rightfully designed as it is ought to be:
“i. Composition of personality invited: The composition of personality invited for this meeting is a testament to our position that the meeting is a sectional affair of the APC and clearly, not in the interest of the southwest and Nigeria.
“ii. The Choice of Venue: Lagos Flag House in Marina, Lagos belongs to Lagos State and associates. This venue should not play host to such a meeting if it will be adjudged to be credible and fair. The meeting, if it is in collective good of the people, should be held at a neutral locations like Ibadan, Oyo State or Akure, Ondo State.
“iii. Unclear agenda of the meeting: We can state for a fact that the motive of this meeting is inexplicit and undefined to many of the invited aspirants as most of them were never engaged. The manner at which the meeting is conveyed like a secret proceeding shows that the conveners have no defined agenda productive enough to be for the benefits of all.
“iv. An already drafted communiqué: Information at our disposal has it that a communique has already been prepared, and in favour of a particular aspirant. This document is currently in circulation among some of the invitees.
“The above stated positions have lent credence to the incredibility of the proposed meeting as well as unreliability of same as a compass for the Southwest in the 2023 presidential election.
“We want to reiterate in clear terms that our recent call was directed at notable, respected and apolitical Yoruba leaders, who are genuinely interested in the development of the South West and Nigeria; leaders who patriotically and tenaciously hold on to the history and heritage of Yorubaland and the upliftment of the masses against inordinate personal gains.”