Ogun APC Produces Parallel State Executives
The unresolved internal political crisis rocking the Ogun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), on Saturday escalated as the party in a parallel manner produced two state executives to run the affairs of the party for the next four years.
It was reported that the party members loyal to former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba and the incumbent Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun held their congresses at different locations in Abeokuta, the State Capital.
It was further reported that the congress of Osoba loyalists took place at Kidot O Hall, Quarry road, while Amosun group held its own at June 12 Cultural Centre, all in Abeokuta. The separate congresses were witnessed by security operatives and electoral umpires as well as newsmen.
Both factions had in attendance large turnouts of party members, as delegates were separately produced in all the 236 wards of the existing twenty local government areas of the state.
At the end of the day, the Osoba faction produced Chief Olu Agemo, the current chairman of the Ogun State Agricultural Board as its State Chairman, while the Amosun camp elected Chief Roqueeb Adeniji as its own state chairman.
In attendance at the Osoba group congress were serving lawmakers at the National Assembly led by Senator Gbenga Kaka, a former Deputy Governor, with others like Senators Gbenga Obadara (Ogun Central), Akin Odunsi (Ogun West); Hon. Adekunle Adeyemi (Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency), Hon. Olumide Osoba (Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode), Hon. Abiodun Abudu-Balogun (Ijebu North/Ogun Waterside) and Hon. Bukola Buraimo (Sagamu/Remo North), except Hon Segun Williams who pitched his tent with the Amosun faction.
Chief Segun Osoba who is a national leader of the party, as well as the incumbent Deputy Governor in Ogun State, Prince Segun Adesegun did not attend any of the congresses. In similar vein, the members of Ogun State House of Assembly were also divided over the congresses, while some participated in the Osoba faction poll, others teamed up with the Amosun camp.
Speaking at the Osoba faction congress, Senator Adegbenga Kaka declared that the congress was to pave way for the party success and do away with authoritarian leadership of the opposition leader. He further stated that, the new executive would now lead party members out of slavery, and called on party members to see the congress as a relief for all, with assurance that the party is now back on the right path.
But,in his own opening speech, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, canvassed unity amongst party members restating that Osoba remained the leader of the party in the state.
“Though by my position as the governor, I’m regarded as the leader of the party but we all know that we have a leader, Akinrogun Olusegun Osoba. We have his blessings for what we are doing here now. In fact, I spoke with him this morning”, Amosun said.
He charged party members not to allow personal interest and selfish desires to override the collective interests of the party.