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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Contrary to reports making the rounds that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, was attacked in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday, the state chairman of the party, Hon. Isaac Omodewu, has described the official visit of the former Kano governor as successful and memorable, adding that “fifth columnists spreading the unfounded rumour of any attacks or harassment during the visit should bury their head in shame.”
Ganduje, who recently emerged as the APC National Chairman following the resignation of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, was in the ancient city of Ibadan on Tuesday, where he paid homage to the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Olalekan Balogun, at his private residence and the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who just returned from a medical trip abroad.
A statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday by Oyo APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, expressed gratitude to both Ganduje and the National Secretary of the party, Sen. Ajibola Basiru, for making the state one of the first to be visited upon their assumption of office.
“There is no gainsaying the fact Oyo State occupied a vantage space in the politics and governance of Nigeria as emphasised by our national chairman in his speech at the Olubadan’s Palace yesterday. Also, leaders and members, who trooped out to receive the Abuja delegation, at our state secretariat in Oke Ado, Ibadan, were assured that rewards for their toil before, during and after the last general elections were on the way.
“The kind of warm reception accorded the former governor of Kano State and his team indicated that the state chapter has confidence in the new leadership of the party at the centre. It was dancing and cheering galore as it showed on the faces of all the people on the entourage of the national chairman that they were in love with Oyo APC. And to cap it all, Dr. Ganduje described the gift of talking drum presented to him as the best he got in recent times.
“At the point of boarding the plane back to Abuja, the national chairman revealed his pleasant surprise at the kind of wonderful arrangement put in place and successfully executed by Oyo APC while playing host to his team in spite of the short notice. When one considers all this, insinuations and rumour of harassment or attacks on the national chairman would make no meaning as it has been traced to the camp of fifth columnists and nitwits whose only wish is to see Oyo APC in crisis.
“At this juncture, we feel obliged to appreciate our leaders such as Chief Moses Adeyemo, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, Sen. Kola Balogun, Chief Akin Oke, Barr. Adebayo Shittu among other eminent chieftains and members, including some of our people who had defected to Accord Party but now coming back home, for trooping to welcome our national chairman and his visiting team at Oke Ado yesterday as it is now evident that Oyo APC is heading to the promise land,” the statement said.