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By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Ibadan South East Local Government Area of Oyo State have asked the party’s Elders Advisory Council to reverse itself over its purported intervention in the crisis rocking the state chapter of the party.
The stakeholders, in a communique issued at the end of their meeting on Tuesday, said there can’t be true reconciliation without prior consultation and consent of major stakeholders and gladiators in Oyo APC.
“Our attention has been drawn to a communique issued by a self- acclaimed Oyo State Elders Advisory Council of the All Progressives Congress, which was jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Barrister Iyiola Oladokun, and Dr Isiaka Kolawole respectively, wherein they requested the two sides in the party to nominate members into the 132-man ward, local government and six-man state harmonisation committee.
“We the entire Elders /Stakeholders for the progressive in Ibadan South East Local Government hereby resolved as follows:
“That the self-acclaimed Elders Advisory Committee does not have moral and legal authority to constitute a true reconciliation committee, in that the said committee is biased, unfaithful and partisan ab initio.
“That the only legitimate and recognise body that is generally acceptable to all party members in the state is the seven zonal leaders, alongside the two former deputy governors and former acting state chairman.
“That the call for nomination from the two sides in the party lacks equity, justice and fairplay, as there exists various formidable tendencies to include Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Engr. Olasunkanmi Tegbe, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Barr. Akeem Agbaje, unity group, Adeolu Akande, Hon. Sunday Dare, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Teslim Folarin group among others.
“That the so called Elders Advisory Committee had earlier pitched its tent with Akala/Teslim Folarin camp and as such cannot be a judge in your own case.
“That there can not be true reconciliation without prior consultation and consent of major stakeholders/gladiators in the party,” the communique read.
The stakeholders urged the “self-acclaimed Elders Advisory Committee” to proscribe itself without further delay and allow the party’s National Working Committee that is “free from bias, manipulation and deceit” to wade into the crisis.
The communique was signed by the zonal leader, Alhaji Basiru Ajibade; Engr Kayode Arowolo; Chief Abolade Akinyemi (Kosigiri); Alhaji Najeemdeen Abass (Gbayawu); Chief Wasiu Ajimobi; Dr Azeez Olatunde; Hon. Sakiru Fagunwa; Hon. Abimibola Omiyale; Hon. Remi Olalekan; and Barr. Rotimi Okeowo.