Yinka ADETUNJI
As the July 31 date for the ward congress of the All Progressives Congress, APC, draws near, a crack appears to have emerged in the party’s fold in Ogbomoso zone as a strategic meeting held on Sunday towards harmonizing distribution of positions was shunned by a prominent leader of the party, Senator Ayo Adeseun.
ogbomosoinsightonline.com can confirm.
The meeting held at Akala Destiny House at Sekoni, Ogbomoso, was attended by many leaders in the zone including Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, Chief Sunday Dare, Mr. Zach Adelabu, Senator Fatai Buhari, Hon Jacob Ajao Adejumo, Hon Jacob Bamigboye, Hon Simeon Oyeleke, Hon Wumi Oladeji, Chief Akin Oke and Hon Segun Odebunmi, (represented by Oloye Adewale) but neither Senator Adeseun nor core leaders of his group were at the meeting.
It was further learnt that the representative whom Adeseun sent, Alhaji Bashiru Akanbi Akatapa, a former state secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was disallowed from gaining access to the meeting on the ground of status.
It was however revealed by a source close to Adeseun that he was absent at the meeting because he could not connect a flight from Lagos that day, “and the person he asked to represent him was prevented from entering the venue because probably some people did not like his face.”
But disproving this claim, a source close to the Akala camp said, “all the leaders including Senator Adeseun chose the date and time together, so, there was no basis for anybody to be absent. I can only agree that there is an ulterior motive for anyone not to have attended.”
Meanwhile, phone calls put to Senator Adeseun’s mobile line to get his reaction on the matter were not answered.
It is nonetheless believed another meeting will be called to discuss sharing of offices across the zone “in order to maintain the unity in the party,” a party leader who begged for anonymity submitted.
Trying as much as possible to avoid primaries, the Sunday meeting, ogbomosoinsightonline.com learnt, resolved that everyone should “go back to his ward and reach consensus on how to share party offices wherever it is possible. But where consensus failed, open field congress will be adopted,” another source disclosed.
Meanwhile, the absence of the former lawmaker, who represented Oyo Central senatorial district in the National Assembly between 2011 and 2015, has fuelled fears that there might be parallel congresses on July 31, especially in Surulere local government, where Adeseun and Odebunmi (Bunvic), who is on his third term as a member, House of Representatives, representing Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa federal constituency, lead the party, and haven’t been best of political allies since they parted ways years ago.
In Ogbomoso North local government, former Governor Akala is expected to have the prerogative of nominating party chairman, with other positions to be shared among other leaders.
In Ogbomoso South, the incumbent senator representing Oyo North senatorial district, Buhari, will have to share the available positions with two former caretaker chairmen of Ogbomoso South local government, Chief Matthew Fasola and Hon Sunday Adedeji, if amity is to be maintained.
In Oriire, immediate past Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Gunju Ojo, who is believed to be close to the Adeseun camp will contend with Hon Jacob Bamigboye, currently representing the constituency except the two and others can work out an amicable solution.
In Ogo-Oluwa local government, the supporters of Adeseun and Bunvic will still slug it out.
After the ward congress, the local government congress will come up two weeks after.
