Former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba on Saturday shunned the ward congress conducted by the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) held across the state.
Osoba, whose followers recorded abysmal performance during the year 2015 general elections under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (S.D.P), had last Thursday held a “peace” meeting with the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun over the ward congress held in the state.
At the “peace meeting”, which had in attendance, Osoba’s core loyalists which included Senators Gbenga Kaka, Gbenga Obadara, Akin Odunsi as well as former House of Representatives member, Bukola Buraimoh among others, politicians from the Osoba faction of the party had agreed to close ranks and be part of the party’s ward congress.
Speaking with journalists on phone over his absence at the ward congress how, Osoba explained that it was not necessary for him to be at the ward congress.
On his part, Amosun, who addressed party supporters at the Ajuwa Ward in Obafemi – Owode local government area, admonished party faithful to allow peace to reign during the congress.
Amosun who arrived the venue of the congress late, also enjoined the party supporters to allow the trend of tolerance earlier set by the party during its previous congresses to reign.
In his own comment, the Secretary to the State Government (S.S.G.), Barr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, who spoke with newsmen at Ward 08, N.U.D road, Oke -Ijeun, where he had gone to participate at the congress described the exercise as a huge success.
Against the backdrop of any crisis between the returnees from the Osoba’s faction, Adeoluwa said APC as a big family does not discriminate against the old members of the party and the returnees.
“I am not aware of any skirmishes in the conduct of the Ward Congress anywhere. APC is a big family and you will remember that the governor mentioned specifically that there are no old or new members. Therefore there is no skirmishes anywhere.
“As a matter of fact, a team from Abuja, led by Alhaji Bashir Sheriff has called me to say that they are surprised to see that contrary to what they heard from the headquarters about Ogun state that we are one big family: whether you’re old or new. As I’m speaking with you, I am in touch with our officials and party members and the response have been impressive”.
