Minister for Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, lamented the membership registration and revalidation exercise of All Progressives Congress (APC) has made murderer and rascal join the party.
Aregbesola, while addressing his supporters in Ilesha, Osun State after he revalidated his membership in APC at Ward 8 in Ifofin, in Ilesa East Local Government with his wife, said the influx of leaders, members of the opposition PDP and other political parties to the APC has allowed those with questionable and unedifying past to cross into the progressive, people-centred party.
The immediate past Osun Governor claimed the APC constitution has no power to reject such individuals since no court has pronounced them as murderers.
He refused to mention names but charged APC members they have a moral duty to ensure such elements do not occupy leadership positions and derail the party.
According to him: “We are doing this registration and revalidation exercise so that it will be easy for us to choose those that will lead and be the candidate of our party.
“No room for a lopsided candidate again in APC. We have registered killer and murderer in our party.
“Our party’s law cannot reject a killer when the court has not pronounced such a person as a killer. But we know killer, thief and rascal in our midst.
“When the time comes we will boycott such person. We can’t allow anybody to take advantage of Bola Ige’s death as a means to take a leadership position. Anyone that attempted it shall never be great. Bola Ige is our father!
“Anybody who disrespects and despise Bola Ige is my enemy. Anytime that we want to choose a candidate here, we will consider name, character, act and those who you moved with before we choose our leader.
“Chief Bola Ige was our leader and stood all his life for a compassionate government, commitment to the good of the majority and ideas that would bring the good life, happiness, progress and security to the people.”
He urged them to be conscious of those who continue to dance on Ige’s grave and avoid anything that would dishonour the late stateman’s memory.
Killers have joined APC, says Aregbesola
by BOLA BAMIGBOLA
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, says killers have been admitted to the All Progressives Congress.
He, however, did not mention any alleged killers.
Aregbesola, who is the immediate past governor of Osun State, spoke at his Ifofin, Ward 8, Ilesa East Local Government Area, on Friday after he revalidated his APC membership.
He said all manner of people could join the party, but advised that when the time comes for members to work together, people of shady character should be avoided.
Sources close to the former governor said the relationship between him and his successor, Adegboyega Oyetola had degenerated following the defection of some prominent people into the party in the state.
Sunday PUNCH learnt that Aregbesola’s camp was displeased with the defection of a particular politician into the APC which the governor was said to have facilitated.
Aregbesola, who spoke in Yoruba in a video of the event obtained on Saturday, was joined by some party stalwarts, including those who served in his cabinet while in office as governor. He said he and his people would remain in the party, but would not relate with people of no good character.
Aregbesola also joined his supporters to sing some proverbial songs, which indicated that there were people who benefited from him while in office but had become ingrates.
Addressing his joyful supporters, he said, “Killers have joined our party and the law guiding our party doesn’t say we can’t admit them when a law court has not convicted them. You know the killers or you don’t know them?
“You know miscreants or you don’t know miscreants? If we will be in the same party, we will not accept anything that will denigrate Bola Ige. He was our father. In this area, Bola Ige was our father.
“Are you happy that Bola Ige was killed? I am a son to the late Bola Ige. Whoever denigrates Bola Ige is our enemy. Whoever wants to use Bola Ige’s tomb to climb to a higher height would not achieve his aim. When we want to aspire for a position here, your name and antecedent will determine how you will be treated.”