The Chairman of Ogun State Congress Committee and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Wale Ohu has described the report of fresh state congress in the state as “Fake Hope”, affirming that the October 30 2021 exercise remains sacrosanct.
Chief Ohu faulted Prof. Adeolu’s position, on Saturday, while featuring on Southwest Political Circuit, an interview program on Ibadan-based Fresh 105.9 FM.
Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, earlier on the programme stated that the the National Caretaker Secretary of the party, Senator John Akpanudoedehe admitted that the October 30th congress held at Ibadan Liberty Stadium took place in error.
Chief Ohu, however, countered Adeolu’s claim, saying the caretaker national secretary of the party tendered unreserved apology to Hon. Gambo Lawan for being held hostage for 12hours by political hoodlums and some party chieftains on October 30, the day of party’s State congress.
In his word, “The idea of saying that National Caretaker Secretary apologized that the State Congress was done in error…. Apology for what? Apology after a process was concluded? How come a process the national secretary was part and parcel of was done in error? Get it clear, Senator John Akpanudoedehe made it clear to all stakeholders during Abuja meeting that the party’s state congress was held in Ibadan on Saturday Oct. 30th. He affirmed that the results list has been submitted to the National Secretariat. He, however, noted privilege was given to Oyo APC gladiators to give peace a chance by making small adjustments to the State Executives list submitted by Hon. Gambo Lawan-led Oyo APC State Congress Committee before ratification of state congresses results by the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC)”.
Chief Ohu emphasised that the APC National Secretariat mandated former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala to midwife harmonization process within a week.
“Former deputy governors Iyiola Oladokun and Moses Alake, seven zonal leaders, members of Oyo APC Elders’ Advisory Council, former State Chairman of the party, Chief Akin Oke and former state secretary, Hon. Mojeed Olaoya are to be part of Akala-led committee” he said.
When asked about the position of APC CECPC on alleged falsified delegate lists, Chief Ohu responded that the National Secretary affirmed that results of ward and local congresses had been ratified, noting that delegate lists are extracts of the ward and local congresses.
“It is erroneous for some aggrieved members to pressure the National Caretaker Secretary to ask Hon. Gambo if the lists brought to Oyo State was given by him. The National Secretary is not in charge of party congresses. People need to know the procedural activities involving the congresses. All congress materials – both sensitive and soft ones was given out by the party’s Director of Organisation, Prof. Al-Mustapha Ussiju Medaner. I superintended ward, local and state congresses in Ogun State, just like other congress committee chairmen, I received congresses results (including delegate lists) from the National Director of Organisation. The lists of delegates and any other congress materials do not emanate from the office of the national secretary. It comes from the office of the Director of Organization. So, the national secretary has no business with either delegates lists or results of congresses” Ohu said.
He stated further that the the outgoing state executives of the party led by Chief Oke have no business with congresses. “If Prof. Medaner were to be present at the Abuja meeting, he would have given it a clear cut injunction on how and what is the procedure of the congress. Asking the state congress committee to bring lists is just like me asking outgoing State Chairman of Ogun APC to bring list of elected executives to Abuja. It’s not possible! Only Congress Committee is saddled with the responsibility to conduct the exercise and submit collated results to the National Secretariat of the party”.
Chief Ohu confirmed that Hon. Isaac Ajiboye Omodewu is recognised State Chairman-elect. He noted that only the former commissioner passed through the three stages of the congress, which are 1.Collection of nomination form, 2.Screening 3. Physical appearance on the congress day, especially at the venue designated for the exercise.
“Before anyone can qualify to be on the executive list of a party at any level, he or she must appear three times. Those who boycotted the last stage are out of the race. Omodewu was the only one who presented himself for the October 30th state congress of our party at Liberty Stadium Ibadan” he stressed.
