By Samuel Adegoke
A former commissioner for Lands, Housing and Survey during the tenure of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Hon. Isaac Omodewu has called on all interest groups and gladiators in the crisis rocking the Oyo State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop venting their grievances in the media, in order for all efforts towards true reconciliation not to be exercises in futility.
The Oke-Ogun born politician, in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Ibadan, on Saturday, appealed to all returning and existing members of Oyo APC to sheathe their swords and get united for the purpose of the party’s victory in the 2023 elections.
The two-term Commissioner under the expressed his displeasure over the brewing supremacy battle after the much publicised meetings convened by the Governor Abubakar Badaru-led APC National Reconciliation Committee and Governor Kayode Fayemi, which were aimed at resolving various crises rocking the party prior to the 2019 elections.
The statement read in part: “The party cannot move forward if we do not stop unnecessary discrimination. APC is a product of ACN, PDP, CPC, APGA, ANPP and other legacy parties. The purpose of which the party was formed is to ensure good governance at all levels. Therefore we must imbibe the spirit of tolerance for peaceful coexistence.
“APC is the only party we can call our own. All stakeholders must place the party’s interest above theirs. The party is the binding force that unites all of us. The unity of the party is the first step towards electoral victory.
“Our disunity actually gave a room for People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) victory in 2019. We lost presidential and governorship elections in the state because of supremacy battle; the loss ought to have taught us good lessons. We cannot continue to suffer our teeming members because of our personal interests. Washing our dirty linens in the public will lead us to nowhere. All stakeholders must be conscious of what they say or write about the party.
“On the leadership of the party, there ought to be no need for controversy again. Former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala has always said he was neither contesting in 2023 nor begging to be a leader of APC; the declaration further underscored his loyalty to the party, maturity and exemplary leadership quality. I expect the formation of Oyo APC Elders Advisory Council, which is all-inclusive, to be a panacea to the party crises not the beginning of another civil war.
“It will be counterproductive if the supremacy battle continues, as all of us have a responsibility to make things work better and ensure unity in our party. Let us join hands together with the leadership of our party at the National and State levels to make sure that our party remains strong to win all elections in the state and federal levels come 2023.
Omodewu, who is a US-trained accountant and public administrator served as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, and Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Physical Planning in the last administration in Oyo State.
