The ongoing reconciliation of aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State seems to be far from over despite holding an enlarged stakeholdes’ meeting on Sunday.
This became evident on Monday as a former Commissioner of Health and Chieftain of the party, Hon. Azeez Adeduntan fumed over his exclusion from the meeting held on Sunday.
He maintained that a true reconciliation can only occur if all stakeholders are carried along in the process.
Speaking on how he was excluded from the most recent reconciliation meeting, he said an invitation was ealier sent to him by the secretary of the reconciliation committee, informing him of the meeting but the invitation was later withdrawn by the same Secretary who claimed the meeting has been cancelled.
“Good morning Sir /Ma, please be informed that the Stakeholders meeting scheduled for tomorrow Sunday 20th Sept 2020 at Gov Fayemi’s residence has been cancelled. All inconveniences regretted. ( Secretary of Oyo State APC Reconciliation Committee),”the message to withdraw the invitation read .
“To my surprise the meeting was held as scheduled against the information given by the secretary to the committee, the reason for his action till now is not yet cleared to me. In Politics, this is calculated subterfuge.
“While other Gubernatorial aspirants, leaders and major stakeholders attended the meeting, including busy bodies and loafers.
“I was misled by the committee’s secretary that the meeting had been cancelled,hence the need for this press conference especially as I had been bombarded by calls and messages from my supporters who were unhappy that I was not at the meeting.
“Whether or not this was a mistake of error of omission or commission, I can not just explain,but all I know is that, it is not acceptable to allow this kind of subterfuge to occur,” Adeduntan said.
He noted that no meaningful or lasting reconciliation can occur if an opposition party is promoting and excluding other stakeholders at a time the party needs to rebuild and bring everyone on board.
“I believe it is wise for leaders and gladiators in Oyo APC to learn from the experience of the recently concluded Edo Election where the party was not only defeated ,but crushed by the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and for them not to also allow the sad experience of 2019 governorship election in the state to repeat itself,” he added.
