By DAPO FALADE
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has declared that former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State remains the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
This was as he declared that the APC in the state has worked assiduously to attain unity, assuring that the party is poised to dislodge the Governor Seyi Makinde-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State.
The Ekiti State governor spoke at the sideline of the continuation of the Oyo APC reconciliation meeting held at his Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo State residence, on Sunday.
When told that some members of the party in the state were against Alao-Akala as the leader of Oyo APC, he said the former governor remained the leader of the party, adding that he was not aware of such dissenting voices.
“I am not aware of any group. I am aware of stakeholders in our party, some who for one reason or the other are aggrieved and felt that certain things ought to be done to bring everybody on board and that is what we have done and they are all here.
“Every segment of our party came to the meeting here today. And we all agreed to work together and work for the unity of the party in the state,” he said.
He also debunked insinuations about disaffection in the Oyo APC, noting that the Ibadan meeting was convened to attend to all the grievances in the party, adding that unity has been attained.
“You will always have some people complain about not being on the list. Part of the reasons we held the meeting today (Sunday) is that there was a directive following the successful meeting held in Abuja that an expanded meeting should take place in Ibadan superintended by myself and former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.
“Naturally, there will be people who will feel they should be in the meeting. I have a very small house; I can’t accommodate more than a sizeable number and I have to follow the COVID-19 protocols.
“The selection of some persons is not an attempt to denigrate any member. All our members are important but the leaders are here and they are of one voice.
“There is no victor, no vanquished. All is settled. We are now a united front as a party moving strongly towards retaking Oyo state and working in the interest of progressive politics.
The target is to win the state. Can there be any other target? The target is to remove my brother, Seyi Makinde. Seyi Makinde is my very good friend and brother.
“As you know, I am chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and I can’t campaign against a sitting governor, but this is about my party and I have a national assignment. Oyo State members of our party have come together and they are not selling groundnut,” he said.
Present at the meeting are Governor Fayemi, former Governor Alao-Akala, Oyo APC chairman, Chief Akin Oke, former Deputy Governors Iyiola Oladokun and Moses Alake, Chief Niyi Akintola SAN and Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle.
Others included Senators Abdulfatai Buhari, Teslim Folarin, Olufemi Lanlehin, Soji Akanbi and Ayo Adeseun, Mr Bimbo Kolade, Mr Joseph Tegbe, Prince Gbade Lana, Professor Taoheed Adedoja and
Professor Adeolu Akande.
Also present are the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, former Minister of Communication,
Barrister Bayo Shittu, Honourable Akeem Adeyemi, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, former Oyo ALGON chairman, Abass Aleshinloye and Dr Fola Akinosun.
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