Crisis in Ondo Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) takes turn for the worst as factions emerge in its fold, Special Correspondent, JULIUS ALABI, reports.
Crisis in Ondo state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), deepens as efforts to reconcile aggrieved members by the party’s leadership are yet to yield positive results. Already, there are many factions of the party in the state, each working at cross purposes to one another. There are in fact, fears that going by the look of things, the party may not be ready for the next year’s governorship election in the state.
A faction of the party had last week in Akure, the state capital protested against the failure of the new Minister of State for Niger Delta, Prof. Omoleye Daramola to honour a scheduled visit to the state. A source close to developments in the party, told our reporter that the minister, by the action, betrayed his followers and party members who had waited to receive him in the state.
A member of the group said that if things did not change in the party in the next few months, they would open talks with any of the political parties in the state who are ready to carry them along. He said, “We are not ashamed of making what I will describe as progressive U-turn to other parties in opposition to APC. We thought of better treatment in APC but it is the other way round.
“We have issued a two-week ultimatum to the national leadership of the party to wade into the crisis or face the consequences of its inaction”.
He accused the national leadership of the party of complacency on the true position of things in the state’s executive council of the organisation.
For one, the controversy that trailed the appointment of Daramola remains a sore point, especially with some groups faulting the exercise on grounds that he is not a grassroots politician but a technocrat who cannot carry the party to anywhere.
The crisis got to the peak last week when Daramola shunned a planned meeting with the state executive members of the party. The minister who personally planned a meeting with the State Working Committee (SWC) and the State Executive Council (SEC) stayed away from the meeting he called to iron out the differences between him and some of the party leaders over his nomination as minister representing the state.
It was learnt that rather than coming to the party secretariat to attend the meeting, he decided to visit some leaders of the party at their respective homes leaving the SWC and SEC frustrated.
Some leaders of the party, including the Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya and Tunji Abayomi and members of the State Working Committee, had kicked against the appointment of Daramola as the state representative in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Thinking that the Minister was coming to pay official visit to the secretariat and settle the differences, the leaders of the party waited at the party secretariat along Oyemekun Road in Akure for over five hours. They left in frustration after they had waited without the seeing the minister.
It was alleged that calls put across to his mobile phones by the party chairman were unanswered. Some of the leaders who expressed disappointment with the Minister claimed that this was the third time that he would personally call for meeting but would not honour it.
They vowed not to attend any meeting called by him in the future.
It would be recalled that the Publicity Secretary, was suspended from office for commending Buhari over the state’s ministerial nominee. Adesanya had in a statement, commended the President over the appointment of Daramola. However, the State Working Committee (SWC) led by the Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke suspended him for issuing the statement without clearance from the SWC and SEC.
Even in the current confusion, the suspended Publicity Secretary has risen in defence of the minister, insisting that he did not shun any meeting. He said: “The All Progressives Congress in Ondo State has denounced the unfortunate and malicious report and rumours being peddled around in some quarters that, the Minister of State for Niger Delta, Prof. Cladius Daramola shunned its leadership meeting”.
He reiterated that the Minister’s visit to Ondo was private and to honour the invitations by traditional ruler of Ode-Aye, Oba Williams Akinmusayo Akinlade, on the occasion of Layelu Day that took place on Saturday, November 14, 2015, and that of of Odigbo, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade on the occasion of Isero Day, that took place the same day.
“Meanwhile the Minister arrived Akure, the State Capital, at exactly 10pm on Friday, 13th November, 2015 and went straight to the former Deputy Governor of the State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi at his residence in Akure for courtesy visit and also to the state Chairman of APC”.
“The Minister however returned to Abuja on Saturday 14th of November, 2015 and indicated that, at an appointed date, he would hold an all inclusive fun fare meeting with members of the State Executive and all leaders of the Party in the state”, Adesanya asserted.
He added that Daramola cannot and will not treat the Party leaders with disdain as insinuated in some quarters, stressing that the allegation was a handiwork of detractors that are not comfortable with the profile and integrity of the minister and the rising popularity of APC in the state.
Incidentally, a Member of House of Representatives, Stephen Olemija insists that there is no crisis or faction whatsoever in APC, adding that the party is getting stronger by the day.
“Justice must prevail in Ondo APC because we are out to take over power from the PDP, a failed party which has meted great injustice to the people of our dear state. I am a loyal member of APC. I remain in APC, but, we must do the right thing”, he said.
According to him, members of the APC are more united now because “we know that united we can stand to take over power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state”, adding that there is no crisis whatsoever in the party in the state.
Olemija stressed; “There are no factions or crisis in our party. What we are witnessing is that some supporters are seen supporting a particular candidate or they want their candidate to emerge for a particular position or post. That is what some people term as factionalization. It is normal in politics and I can assure that all members are back on the track to work hard for the success of the 2016 Governorship elections in the state”.