“…Oyo APC’s great household is threatened
Only about a broken fence stands;
And those who dared not look in her face
Have come out as men.
How well their pride is with them.
Where are her sons, where are her brothers?
They now sit on the fence, as cowards would…”
The trends in Oyo APC have been pitiful and sad, which makes it fit perfectly into lines from the great Poet, K.Awoonor. Oyo APC, a once enviable party which was courted by gladiators across the state is now falling apart like a pack of cards with little or no defense.
Factions here and there. Interests have eaten deep into the fabric of the once United Progressives. Solidarity has become a strange word, and like orphans, party faithfuls look on, with no sure direction of where the pendulum will swing.
Abiola Ajimobi. This name has been called so many times in the past month and the current one, that God himself must begin to marvel at the efficiency/efficacy of the man he has now called home to himself. Without much ado, Ajimobi’s death made the APC vulnerable. Worst still, he left no lieutenants, no worthy sons and no faithful comrades to guard the house passed on to him from Lam Adesina.
Those of us in diaspora have watched as some of those who claim to be true progressives have not uttered one word in defense of the party. It is truly a shame. They look on at a party they benefited from, a party that gave them a voice and a platform falling into hands of desperate men of questionable ambitions.
Those who seem to be fighting for the soul of the party seem to be only be a handful. Where are the big names like Bimbo Adekanmbi, Seyi Adisa, Olowofela, Alhaji Olalekan Alli, Adelabu, Isiaka Kolawole, all our federal Honourables, former Council chairmen, party leaders, former councillors, former political appointees, past state Honourables and others who glaringly benefited from the party? They have suddenly gone mute? They have clearly shown that they are progressives only when it is convenient. It is becoming clear that they have chosen not to defend the interest of the party.
Indeed, courage and integrity is not the value of many men.
“Tell them their house is falling, while they look on in silence
And the trees in the fence
Have been eaten by termites;
Tell them that the martels curse them.
Ask them why they are idle
While the crow and the vulture
Hover always above Oyo APC’s broken fences
And strangers are about to walk over our portion.”
The next few weeks will be crucial in Oyo APC, we are watching to see where the pendulum swings and when some chieftains in the party will find their lost voice. Hopefully by then, they’ll still have a party to return to.
In the imbroglio, We salute the courage of those that have been lending their voices and stood in solidarity with the party, Otunba Alake Adeyemo, Chief Sunday Akin Dare, Hon. Afeez Bolaji Repete, Chief Niyi Akintola, Chief Akin Oke, the 7 zonal leaders , Professor Adeolu Akande, Senator Ayo Adeseun, Dr Azeez Adeduntan, may God continue to bless them.
Hon. Abimbola Folorunso writes from NYC
