By Richard Ayinde, Osogbo.
The Osun Progressives (TOP) has warned Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and his group, IleriOluwa, to desist from threatening elected officers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at ward and local government levels in the recently concluded congresses in the State.
According to the Chairman of the caucus, Reverend Adelowo Adebiyi, Governor Oyetola and leaders of IleriOluwa group, have embarked on subtle threat and attempt at compromising the party executives, majority of whom are plaintiffs in the suit against the Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye conducted controversial congresses in the state.
Adebiyi, in a press statement made available to newsmen yesterday, noted that such action was not only fraudulent but will take Oyetola and his group nowhere in the ongoing disputation is Osun APC.
Adebiyi who submitted that the IleriOluwa group is shameless, reminded the Governor and his group of their contention that TOP consists of “few disgruntled elements who are pursuing selfish interests”, wondering why they are putting strenuous effort to threatening and compromising TOP members where possible.
The former Chairman of APC the State of Osun maintained that it is clear the Governor’s group has seen the foolishness in its earlier grandstanding and now making attempt to coerce members of TOP to join Oyetola’s team.
Adebiyi stated that even in their discovery that they are already skinned of many party members, both Oyetola and his group are still in delusion of getting solution through the back door, saying poaching won’t work as TOP members are responsibly resolute in their bid to have APC reformed.
He said: “Governor Oyetola and his people are threatening TOP members, and trying to compromise and hijack some of them where possible, especially those who are petitioners in the suit against the sham congresses conducted by Hon. Elegbeleye.
“They think that will save them from the imminent judgments from the court. They seem bent on sabotaging the genuine efforts to rework and re-energize the party to continue their self-serving regime will which has led us to the precipice. That won’t solve their self inflicted problem and I assure them they have failed.”
Adebiyi said it was obvious that many party members actually want Osun APC renewed for greater attainments and thus the poachers were up against a herculean task of convincing a well grounded pro APC renewal.
TOP noted that what the Governor and his group were doing will do more damages to the disquiet in the party as most members who felt irked and debased by the atrocious past leadership style will rebuff the attempt to get solution their own way.
He urged elected APC members to resist the attempt to truncated their march towards a new APC by being courageous and reject being lured with crumbs they are offering them.
While noting that genuine and rational reconciliation remains part of what to strategise on in any dispute, Adebiyi however, noted that the Governor and his apeople have a different thinking which is about resolving the issue in their own fashion saying such cannot work.
