IBADAN – Ahead of the reconciliatory meeting of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo state, a Chieftain of the party and former Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu has revealed why the meeting will not hold at former Governor Adebayo Akala’s Bodija, Ibadan residence.
Speaking on Petals fm Ibadan’s ‘The Interview’ with Adebisi Ogunjimi, monitored by Ametrocopy, Barrister Shittu said the meeting will hold at Governor Kayode Fayemi’s house in Jericho Ibadan, on Sunday 20th Sept. 2020 because the party wanted a neutral place as the two major factions within the party, The Unity Forum and the SENACO, will be coming together for the first time.
“The Consensus is that the meeting should take place at Gov Fayemi’s place because we wanted a neutral place in view of the fact that the two main groups within the APC, The Unity Forum and the SENACO will be meeting for the first time and it was thought that it should be at a neutral place”.
Barrister Shittu described the recent meetings in Abuja by notable members of the party as exploratory meetings at the behest of the National Reconciliatory Committee, recalling that the party has been in crisis for the past few years ‘as a result of misgovernance on the part of the then leader in imposing candidates and not allowing primaries’.
While confirming the return of Senator Olufemi Lanlehin to the APC, Shittu affirmed that the majority of party members who left will be returning.
“Many leaders of the leaders of APC left because they were denied opportunities to contest primaries for various positions. Only about ten percent of them are not coming back”.
On the possibility of an Oke Ogun candidate emerging governor of Oyo state, Barrister Shittu expressed hope that the lofty dream will be achieved soon stressing the loyalty of Oke Ogun members and the strategic position the region occupies in the state.
‘The truth is Oke-Ogun constitutes 10 local governments of very loyal citizens who have in their own way contributed a great deal to governance in the state. It is the food basket of the state and ironically, more often than not, Oke-Ogun has always been chosen as Deputy Governor, it is our hope that in the near future, Oke-Ogun will be chosen as the governor. What is important is that Oke- Ogun people are as qualified as anyone from any other place’.
