Ibadan – A political pressure group within the All Progressive Congress Party in Oyo State – APC UNITY WATCH has raised red flag over what it described as a covert attempt by the 2023 gubernatorial candidate of the party Sen. Teslim Folarin to use his recent visit to the Presidency as a subterfuge to repeat what he did during the build-up to 2023 elections- hijacking the party structures at all levels to the displeasure of other critical stakeholders and which eventually spelt electoral failure for him and the party in the said elections.
According to a statement issued by the group and signed by its Coordinator – Chief Adedotun Ajayi, it warned that party faithfuls should be weary of this antic, which has since introduced the “jagba” lexicon into the dictionary of politics in the state. This, it noted, has since caused sharp disunity within the party and which the authentic and credible Elders and Leaders of the party are working round the clock to tackle.
Therefore, inaugurating a committee in Abuja last week, which was done without due consultation with all stakeholders, Party Exco and the various tendencies in the party ignored, in the guise of working for the President’s second term , amounts to planning to walk the same path that led to the last failure of the party in Oyo State, the statement added.
The Statement:
“It’s no more news that Sen Teslim Kolawole Folarin met with the president and took pictures with him which has been flying around on Social media space since the past few days.
After the said meeting between the duo, Sen Teslim Folarin came out to claim that the president had given him the mandate to go back to Oyo state and reposition the party. He came saying this, being his usual subtle approach and “JAGBA” tactics, which we all know is a disguise, because this has become a case of “Once beaten, twice shy”.
For us to avoid being railroaded once again, Sen Teslim Folarin will need to give us written proof of his assignment from the Presidency because we know that he had already set up a committee last week Thursday that will usurp the power of the state executive committee.
We can’t allow him to come with this narrative again and use it to hijack the party once again because has been his usual tactics. Oyo state APC members must watch out for whatever stunt the Senator is trying to pull again, now that he sees the prospect of the party’s success, come 2027.
Don’t let us be carried away with all the pictures taken with President Tinubu at Aso Rock. Don’t be bought over with “Photocracy” gimmick. Trust Sen Teslim Kolawole Folarin in politics at your own peril”, the statement concluded.
