Osun 2022: Elders’ Caucus Meets Akande Over APC Crisis, Oyetola Reelection

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The Elders’ caucus of All Progressives Congress(APC), Osun State held a meeting with the first interim Chairman of the party, Chief Adebisi Akande on Tuesda over crisis rocking the party and reelection of Adegboyega Oyetola in 2022.

Chief Akande hosted the Elders in his Ila residence of Osun State on Tuesday in a meeting that lasted for over 2hours.

The meeting was attended by 29 elders of the party including; Hon Lasun Yusuf, Ex-deputy governor, Titilaoye Ponle, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Prince Felix Awofisayo, Prof Mojeed Alabi, former minister, Dr Isaac Adewole, Olosunjela of Osunjela, Oba Muhammed Babatunde, Senator Ajibola Basiru among others.

The meeting started around 11:45;AM and ended 1:30 PM as former governors, senators, ex-deputy governor, deputy speaker House of Representatives and big wig of the party deliberate extensively about the party.

A source who confided in our reporter said, “Chief Bisi Akande presided over the meeting. We deliberated on the crisis rocking our party and ways in solving them since congresses are now over. We talked about the reelection of Adegboyega Oyetola and the need for the party to mobilise support for him so that we can win the 2022 governorship election.

“We also inducted seven members into the Elders Caucus today. This will strengthen our party to win the election because of the calibre of people we have, no party in Osun State can contend with them.”

Another source said, “The former deputy speaker, House of Assembly, RT. Hon Lasun Yusuf expressed displeasure for ill treatment meted out for him by the leadership of the party before the 2018 governorship election and 2019 general election.

“Baba Akande and Chairman of Elders Caucus, Chief Sola Akinwumi urged aggrieved members to sheath their sword and mobilize support for Oyetola’s reelection in 2022.”

After the meeting, while Chief Bisi Akande was briefing newsmen, he said, “I expect a bigger, greater and widespread APC in Osun State. The meeting had always existed but because of COVID-19, the meeting had not been held for a very long time. I want to wake them up and make them know that they are elders in Osun so that they can start holding meetings. This is the beginning of elders activities to move the party forward in Osun.

“We are doing all our best to resolve every crisis, I can assure you that there will be no crisis within our party before the guber election. We came from different constituencies in Osun and we are going back to let our people know we have started to be more active than before.”

He boasted that the candidate of the party in the 2022 Osun State governorship election will win.

While responding to APC zoning presidency to the south, he noted that “My party has no constitution for zoning, the south will be ready to contend with the north, whoever that becomes our candidate will win as the presidential election.”

Similarly, the Chairman of Elders Caucus, Chief Sola Akinwumi, speaking about the meeting said, “It is the congregation of elders within the state towards actualising good party politicking in Osun state and ensuring that all members of our party do register and play their roles at the 2022 governorship election.

“As far as I am concerned, Governor Aregbesola is a democrat, he will support us, he suppose to be here, we respect him a lot, he is part of the Elders’ caucus. Among us today we have about two or three former governors. Rauf will certainly not do any other thing than standing with progressive so nothing to worry about.”