Anxiety In Osun APC Over Lifting Of Ban

Fear has gripped members of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State over lifting ban on governorship aspirants having interest in the plum job being occupy by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Investigation conducted revealed that the apprehension was caused by delay in the lifting of ban on aspirants seeking to contest the September 22nd 2018 governorship election in the state.

It was further leanrnt that while some governorship aspirant had complied to the party directive restraining aspirants to put on hold all political activities till the time the party will lift the embargo officially, some aspirants had gone on air to sell to the electorate their campaign agenda.

The development, it was gathered had given serious concern to members of the party in the state who are alleging favouristims and bias against the party leadership in the state.

The Stats Chairman of the party, Gboyega Famodun had two weeks ago while featuring on a radio personality interview programme, had said that the ban on political activities directed about two years ago will be lifted in two weeks time.

There is apprehension on the whether the ban will be lifted as promised by Famodun because it was not the first time when such promise will be made and dishonoured by the party executive.

This attitude angered the elders caucus of the party and directed the party executive to lift the ban without further delay saying the ban has continued to do more damage to the chances of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

The part executive has since jettisoned the advice of the elders caucus in lifting the ban and the development has pitched the Elders caucus against the party executive in the state.

Some of the members who spoke with CityMirrorNews said they had lost confidence in Gboyega Famodun led executive of the party alleging that he is doing the bidding of the power that be.

According to Moruf Oladeinde of Balogun Ward in Gbongan, headquarters of Ayedaade Local Government Council Area of the state, should the party go back on its word to lift the embargo as promised by Prince Famodun on Friday, it may mark the beginning of dwindling chances of the party in the final governorship election in September this year.

“My prayer is that the party leadership will do the needful and lift the embargo as promised and allow all the governorship aspirants to start their consultation in earnest,” he said.

Another chieftain of APC from Ila-Orangun, Mr Tajudeen Afolabi said; “I don’t know what and who is holding the hands of the party leadership from lifting the embargo.

He called on national secretariat of the part to mandate the state executive to lift the ban without further delay.

Afolabi accused the party executive in the state of bias allowing some aspirants who are close to Governor Aregbesola to kick start consultation without waiting for the party directive.

He said, “The party leadership in the state cannot hold us to ransom any longer on our candidates’ aspirations.
“We are indeed tired of the party leadership’s continued embargo.

“Of what essence is the embargo that allows a particular aspirant to go ahead with his own consultation and even airing of his jingles on radio, while holding down the hands of other aspirants. This is quite against the spirit of equity and fairplay.

As at the time of filling this report, it is not certain when the party executive will actually lift the ban on political activities within APC in the state, resulting in apprehension and anxiety.

But when contacted, the Party Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi denied that there was not apprehension in the party assuring that the party has said that the ban will be lifted very soon.

Oyatomi said there is no more shifting, we are disciplined party and stable. It is not out of fear but attempt to do the right thing at the right time.

“You can be rest assured that we are preparing for it. APC is the only party in the state. We are up to the task. All hands are on deck to do the needy and lift the ban at the appropriate time.