Party stakeholders dump Aregbesola, Pitch tent with Oyetola over party Congress

The seemingly crisis of confidence between immediate past Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his successor, Adegboyega Oyetola, came to a head on Friday, as party leaders and stakeholders shun the meeting called by Aregbesola and instead showed up at the stakeholders’ meeting, convened by the State party executives.

The stakeholders’ meeting, which was at the instance of the All Progressives Congress, APC National Committee for Osun State Ward Congress, had in attendance all the critical party leaders in the State, including Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, three former deputy governors -Senator Iyiola Omisore, Prince Sooko Adewoyin and Mrs. Titi Laoye-Ponle - and Osun Speaker, Timothy Owoeye, Senate’s spokesman, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, members of the National Assembly, the lawmakers from the State House of Assembly, leaders from the nine federal constituencies in State and State excise among others.

At the meeting, which came barely four hours after Aregbesola had summoned a similar meeting at his Oramiyan House, in Osogbo, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye said the members of the Committee just arrived the State on Friday contrary to the insinuations being peddled around that they had been in the State for days.

The APC Ward Congress Committee Chairman also said that none of the members of the Committee was neither kidnapped nor abducted by anyone as being speculated, saying they arrived Osun late due to logistics needed to ensure smooth process.

While promising that the Committee would do everything within its powers to ensure a transparent, accountable and fair Congress before, during and after the exercise, Elegbeleye said: “As a matter of fact, we got the materials by 5:00pm yesterday (Thursday) at the National Headquarters of our party, Abuja, and as we all know, we have to move down to Osun.

"It was not our fault that we didn't come here earlier. I want our people to know that I was not kidnapped by anyone. Nobody kidnapped us.

" We are here to do a very good job and we are hopeful that we are going to get the required support from every member of the party. Osun is peaceful and we are confident of the fact that the Omoluabi ethos which the State is known for will be displayed throughout the conduct of the exercise.

"We are going to be transparent, fair and open to ensure that the entire process is free, fair, credible and acceptable to all.”