By DAPO FALADE
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and former Oyo governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala have been commended for bringing to an end the crisis that hitherto bedeviled the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The commendation is contained in a statement issued, on Monday, by the leaders of the Oyo APC across the 33 local government areas of the state.
The leaders expressed joy at the outcome of the reconciliation meeting held at the Ibadan residence of Governor Fayemi, on Sunday.
According to them, the roles played by the two leaders who co-chaired the meeting and all others in bringing the crisis to an end is worthy of emulation by other states who may find themselves in this kind of situation in the future.
A former Oyo APC financial secretary, Alhaji Kayode Adanla, said: “The final resolution of this crisis is a welcome development and all embracing. We will make sure we live as one big family henceforth. No more bikering or in-fighting among us again. All groups, camps, factions have been disbanded and what we have now is one big APC family.
“The meeting unanimously decided and it was agreed by all that was present at the meeting that, be it Senaco, Lamist, Unity Forum, Destiny Group, Reformers, Aspirants’ Forum, Way Forward or what have you, should cease to exist and all structures should collapse into the APC.
“Everybody should go back to their respective local government and champion the cause of the party. This we see as a welcome development and a right step in the right direction.”
“With Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, as the chairman of the Elders Advisory Council, bringing to bear his vast experience in the politics of Oyo State, we are good to go.
“His leadership is incontrovertible, bearing in mind that, statutorily, he is an automatic member of the Elders Advisory Council and being the only former governor in the party and in the advisory council, the leadership falls on his shoulders to lead the Oyo State APC to victory at the polls in 2023.”
Other leaders, including Chief Lowo Obisesan, Dr Fola Akinosun and Honourable Shina Peller, in their various submissions, commended the unique manner in which the membership of the elders council was constituted.
They commended Senator Soji Akanbi and Senator Teslim Folarin who headed the selection committee of both the Oyo South and Oyo Central senatorial districts and came up with the names of grassroot politicians from the zones to be included in the 10-man advisory council and was ratified by the whole house after the names were announced by the co-chairmen.
“This type of internal democracy and an all-inclusive leadership is what we have been clamouring for. We thank the duo of Governors Fayemi and Alao-Akala for towing the path of honour and democratic leadership tendencies.
“We were given the opportunity and free hand to chose who we wanted to represent us in the Elders Advisory Council; nobody imposed any member on us. It was a collective and collegiate decision that we all took openly and without fear of intimidation or harrasment from any quarters.
“We also ensured that none of the members of the advisory council has any political ambition to forestall any untoward vested political interest jeopardizing the functionality of the council.
“We had Senator Soji Akanbi and others leaders from Oyo South Senatorial District who came up with the names of Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Chief Jolaoso and Dr. Isiaka Kolawole, while Senator Teslim Folarin of Oyo Central and other leaders of the zone present at the meeting came up with the names of Chief (Mrs.) Yinka Adebayo, Senator Ayoade Adeseun and Engineer Idris Adeoye.
“Oyo North had Chief Iyiola Oladokun, Otunba Moses Alake-Adeyemo and Chief Akin Oke who, statutorily by virtue of the office they have held or position they presently occupy, are members of the council.
“Looking at the above, there is no gainsaying the fact that Oyo State APC has towed the path of peace and progress and will never go back to the dark days,” the statement added.
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