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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Former governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, has inaugurated an 11-man committee to reposition the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Oyetola, while addressing party leaders and loyalists at the inaguration of the committee held at the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Office, Osogbo, on Monday, said the party must not overlook excesses of those members that created challenges for it in the last governorship and general elections, noting that decisive steps must be taken to reorganise the party.
Among other things, Oyetola charged the committee, led by a former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, to review activities of the party in recent times, consider the aspect of party administration, make recommendations for an ethical reward system and propose templates for resolving existing or future grievances among party members.
“Before today’s event, I had held a series of meetings with all strata of the party, including the Igbimo Agba, the leadership of the party, critical stakeholders and the youth, to chart a new course for the APC in Osun. It was the outcomes of those meetings that informed the setting up of this committee.
“If the Osun electorate could identify with us despite the intimidation, harrassment, violence and killings perpetrated by the PDP, then, we must brace up to sustain the interest of the Osun people in our party.
“To do that, we must also not gloss over some of the challenges caused by the excesses of some members of the party, some leaders and elected officials. Hence, the inauguration of this committee,” the former governor said.
Reacting to the move to reposition party in Osun State, leader of the APC members loyal to former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Mr Lowo Adebiyi, welcomed the development.
While speaking woth newsmen in Osogbo, Adebiyi listed conditions that must be met before Aregbesola’s supporters would relate with the committee.
“It is a welcome development but we are not aware. It is a good thing, if they think it is now time to reposition the party, we are still in the APC, but we are not aware and not involved in the committee issue,” he said.
Asked if Aregbesola’s men would appear before the committee, Adebiyi said: “How do we appear before the committee? Is that a panel to probe us? If they feel like coming to us, we will let them know the way forward, but we will not appear before them, it is not possible.”
Members of the committee included former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole (Chairman), former Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Rasak Adeosun (Secretary), State APC Treasurer, Hon. Femi Kujembola, Prince Kunle Ayantoye, Hon. Mudasiru Toogun and Hon. Ipoola Binuyo.
Others are Hon. Emmanuel Folorunsho; Hon. Akintunde Adegboye; Hon. Bade Falade; Hon. Idowu Falade; Hon. Gbenga Oladehinde and Hon. Olasunkanmi Akinola.