Leaders of the Oyo state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) across the three Senatorial Districts on Thursday called on the National leader of the party, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to reject the nomination of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi as Deputy National Chairman.
The call came on the heels of rumours making rounds that Ajimobi has been nominated to replace Chief Niyi Adebayo as APC Deputy National Chairman.
Adebayo has been appointed by President Mohammadu Buhari as Minister .
The Oyo APC leaders, who rose against the nomination of Ajimobi at a caucus meeting in Osogbo, stated that the choice of the former governor was a wrong one since he does not enjoy the majority support of the party leaders in the state.
Speaking with journalists after an emergency meeting of the APC leaders across the three Senatorial districts in Ibadan , the spokesperson of the party leaders, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, called on the APC National leader to look outside the box by consulting party leaders in the state before arriving at a popular choice that will be acceptable to all.
He said ” Our resolve is that our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should look for younger people who are more vibrant and intelligent rather than recycling the old wine in the new bottle.
“He (Ajimobi) can’t fit in . Somebody that was given a higher responsibility in the state and the whole party was in disarray .
” And because of him we lost the presidential , senatorial, House of Assembly elections in the state. We don’t want further trouble in the party and the National Leader should not allow Ajimobi to further decimate the party and put our members in jeopardy.
“There are a lot of experienced politicians, who are even more experience than Ajimobi , that we can nominate to occupy the seat of the Deputy National Chairman from the state.
” So, the position of the National Deputy Chairman is for a true leader who can embrace all , irrespective of their imperfection .
“A leader that has perseverance, tolerance and that has the spirit of forgiveness, not somebody wearing the toga of arrogance , that sees himself as the Alpha and Omega .
“Nobody is all in all except the Almighty God . We don’t want somebody who has disappointed the entire people of Oyo state , but someone who possess the qualities that endear the people . ”
While reassuring the APC national leaders of the preparedness of the party leaders to ensure that APC regain power in 2023 in Oyo state, Ibikunle, who is the Chairman, National Lottery Commission, said “we are hopeful that the ongoing reconciliation of all the aggrieved members in the state would further strengthen the party to chase out PDP in next election.”
He bemoaned the actions of the former Governor while in government , which he said was the cause of woes party members are currently facing.
He expressed confidence that the party would come out stronger.
“If the former governor Ajimobi is allowed to hold the post of the National Deputy Chairman , then the future of APC, and its members in the state will be in jeopardy, ” he stated.
The APC leaders also called on Governor Seyi Makinde to retrace his steps on the feud over the control of local government administration in the state, by ensuring that the elected representatives of the people at the grass root were allowed to complete their tenure.