It is often said that Nigeria Democracy is not always Democratic especially when it comes to intra-party disputes – the majority does not rule, and the people may not decide. This undemocratic practice where a tiny minority decide and dictate who becomes party chairman at the detriment of the large majority is tearing apart the Oyo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress. In retrospect, this whole cracks does not start with the state congress; rather, that internal wrangling stems from inability to manage various disparate ambitions which hitherto was the resultant effects of heavy presence of different political heavyweights in its fold.
Recall in the build up to the 2019 elections, late Governor Abiola Ajimobi once remarked that his open door policy has attracted various political gladiators from across party lines into his camp. At that time, the duo of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and Senator Teslim Folarin became the latest in the series of opposition figures to defect to then ruling All Progressives Congress. Recall also that in 2015 elections, Senator Teslim Folarin, PDP candidate and Labor Party flag bearer, Otunba Alao-Akala wrestled power from Senator Abiola Ajimobi although, the former defeated his opponents in one of the keenly contested election in the history of the state – to break the jinx by winning his record breaking re-election.
In the meantime, the defections of Otunba Alao-Akala and Senator Folarin and a host of others made Oyo APC the party of power brokers and Political bigwigs both in the state, the region and in the country. But with political gladiators come intensive power horse trading and internal bickering never before seen in any political party in the country. For instance, the remaining 35 states and FCT have conducted and concluded their congresses only waiting for the party National convention coming up in a month time. Only Oyo state chapter of the APC is lagging behind, yet to conduct nor conclude its state congress. The problem here is simple and visible: political gladiators.
In a sense, the overriding interest of political gladiators crossing to other party is to see their dreams become reality. And it is this pipe dream that eventually and always lead to polarization and forming of various factions and groups in the party. Oyo All Progressives Congress for example has about six different strong and formidable groups one of which shocked the others by having its candidate as the newly elected state party chairman. As it’s usually the case, each group with its leader always has the eyes on the party structure since he who pays the piper dictates the tunes. Further, each group in other words has its loyalty tied to the apron string of its leaders and their aspirations.
Then last week congress happened – after postponement. Gambo Lawan, State congress committee chairman was reportedly held hostage in his hotel room while news spread across of the falsification of delegates list. But in all of this, it was the the camp of Senator Teslim Folarin that stunned as it gob-smacked other political heavyweights by having his preferred candidate, Honorable Isaac Omodewu as the party chairman. Put simply, the crisis rocking Oyo APC took another dangerous dimensions with last week disputed congress. And even now, it will take careful compromise, political artistry and creativity to sort this delicate issue.
As part of efforts to restore peace in the party, stakeholders of APC in the state were invited to a meeting at the party secretariat in Abuja.
The National caretaker chairman and Yobe state Governor, Mai Mala Buni represented by the Secretary Senator John James apologized to the party over the avoidable rancor which greeted the state congress. In his words, “the National leadership of the party apologized to the members of APC in Oyo State for the purported congress of Saturday October 30, 2021 which stated, emphatically, was held in error”.
Furthermore, the Meeting reviewed the list of nominees for the State Executive Committee offices zoned to each of the seven administrative units or geopolitical zones of the state and directed that the nominations from each zone should be verified by the zonal leaders that submitted the list. This is to be done with former governor of Oyo State, H. E Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, the two former deputy governors, Chief Iyiola Oladokun and Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo, the seven zonal leaders and myself.
Surprisingly, the meeting also resolved and echoed the same falsification of delegates list used to conduct the purported state congress saying the list used by the Chairman of the Congress Committee, Alhaji Gambo Lawan at the last APC Stakeholders meeting in Ibadan was not from the National Secretary as he had claimed. For those who feel shortchanged by the last week congress, the pronouncement by the party National secretariat was a sort of relief as it renewed and rekindled their hope in a free, fair, transparent and credible party congress.
More especially, the precarious situation Oyo APC found itself is creating the ‘We’ versus ‘they’ mentality which is pretty bad for the party. Although, the party has been told to go back home and resolve its issues, then report back in a week time; it is unlikely a unanimous and harmonious and inclusive resolution will be agreed in that short period of time. Be that as it may, Oyo APC’s first litmus test is turning to be more interesting than ever anticipated. The question however will be what next after this dust is settled? This question has kept party faithful agitated.
For instance, will another congress be held since the National Convention of the party is slated to hold by December of this year? Or will the large majority of the party members and leaders allow the minority to have their ways with this congress? Or will there be a complete and all out war to snatch the party structure from the purported winner of the last congress?
Interestingly, the National leadership of the party seems to be mindful of recognizing the Isaac Omodewu’s leadership and it is why the state Caretaker chairman, Akin Oke, is still being saddled with resolution and reconciliation efforts of the party.
Whatever happens to Oyo APC either play into the hands of the PDP or dent a huge blow on the re-election bid of the Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde. And that is why this internal wrangling is crucial to what happen to the two dominant parties as we approach 2023 general elections.
OYO101, Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion on issues affecting Oyo State, is published on Saturdays. He can be reached via muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com and 09065176850.
