THE centre seems not to be holding within the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Oyo State as the supremacy battle and looming face off between Governor Abiola Ajimobi and some key members of the party assumed a new dimension.
According to the South-West All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Forum, while kicking against what they described as “one man show” way of running the affairs of Oyo State by the state governor disclosed that the perceived conflict in Oyo APC is connected with the alleged intention of the governor to carry out imposition policy of candidates over the Local Government election’s primaries.
The group in a press release issued, signed and made available to newsmen in Ibadan, the state capital by the duo of Honourable Azeez Olakanmi, its Chief Coordinator and Chief Ayo Ajani, Secretary maintained that the political happening in the state if not challenged may imperil the chances of the party in 2019.
Also, the Forum expressed displeasure over the cancellation of the party’s primaries ahead of the proposed council poll simply because the governor’s candidates may not emerge, adding that the party members are crabbed with the styles of the governor in running the affairs of the state.
The statement reads, “with the recent happenings in Oyo state in particularly on the postponement of Local Government elections, members of our party were totally embittered with Governor Abiola Ajimobi over his intention to carry out imposition policy of candidates.
“The move by the governor to cancel the scheduled poll…is a bad sign for the party. We are advising the governor not to allow this present system of his administration to jeopardize the chances of the party in 2019 general elections in the state.
“Party members are disgruntled against the styles of Governor Abiola Ajimobi in the running of the states affairs which has been seriously personalised while the spirit of merger parties that formed APC has been completely defeated.
“The widespread marginalized of defunct CPC and ANPP members from the affairs of the state is noticeable.
“The governor has virtually found it difficult to carry the state party executive and notable people among all the merger parties along with in his policies. It is a one man show in Oyo State which does not augur well for our democracy.
“Frankly, all notable key members of the defunct ANPP, CPC, APGA and PDP that formed APC have been sidelined. All these have been contributing to low rating of APC in the state thus threatening the future prospect of APC. We thereby appeal to the governor to stop political and civil service administrative vendetta in the interest of the party.
“The Governor should jettison his autocratic tendencies and it is necessary to embrace participation and inclusive government. Local government apparatus must be allowed to stay alive to promote serious democracy in the state while the Local Government election must be allowed to hold”, the group added.
The group further urged : “It is our prayer that the governor should be called to order and made to give adequate recognition to all members that formed APC in the state without discrimination. The governor should as well recognize the APC State party executive so as to make it function effectively and stop dividing and rule tactics.
The forum, then commended Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos state and his counterpart in Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun for recording giant strides in their respective states.
“We however commend Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos state for brilliant performances in his state and we also acknowledge the good work of Governor Amosun of Ogun State with his laudable infrastructure development and enjoin all other state governments in the South-West to emulate their progressive style of administration”.
