Osun APC Stakeholders Differ Over Support For Ex-Senate Spokesman, Basiru

Niyi Olasinde

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State have differed over the choice of the former Spokesperson of the Senate, Senator Ajibola Basiru as the National Secretary of the party, ahead of his ratification by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

While the State Working Committee led by the Chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, is strongly backing Basiru’s emergence, concerned elders of the party from Ife zone are behind Senator Babajide Omoworare, the immediate-past Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate).

in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, in Osogbo, the state capital on Tuesday, the party stated that the Osogbo-born ex-Senator possesses all it takes to perform optimally as the  National Secretary of the party.

Lawal disclosed that a vote of confidence was unanimously passed by the state executive officers of the party at a meeting in Osogbo on the suitability of Senator Basiru to occupy the office of the National APC Secretary.

He recalled that the record of the superlative performance of Senator Basiru, an accomplished lawyer, is indellible in the Senate.

Lawal explained that Basiru is one of the first timers in the Senate who was saddled with such a crucial responsibility as the mouthpiece of the Senate; which he carried out satisfactorily, diligently and flawlessly.

While stating its position, the Ife APC Concerned Elders  in a joint statement signed by Dr. Israel Adeyanju, Comrade Sesan Odunlade and five others sought a rethink of the party leadership to support Omoworare, who they also think is eminently qualified to occupy the seat.

The elders held that it will be a wrong political move to zone what originally belonged to Osun East – particularly Ife Zone to the Osun Central Senatorial District which is producing the ministerial nominee from the state.

The stakeholders note that the decision of the party leaders might spell doom for the party in future electoral contests as there is no one from the zone which has been sufficiently catered for by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), in its sharing of offices to stand against any opposition. 

The statement said: “Currently in Osun, our party is in serious crisis, taking away the position of the National Secretary from Osun East to Osun Central will be counter productive for the future party election going by what prevails in PDP government of Osun state.

“If the rumour making the round that Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola the immediate past governor who is from Osun Central is being considered for Osun State ministerial slot is to be true, it is a serious concern that the position of the National Secretary as being rumored should not go to Osun Central. This will greatly impede political spread and progress of the APC across the state.

“If the the slot is taken away from Osun East, it should be brought back to Osun East logically and Ile Ife in particular where there are arrays of political heavyweight that are more qualified politically, governmental and administrative experience. 

“Without reservation, the concerned Elders want to mention Senator Babajide Christopher Omoworare, CON as our consensus choice. He is humane, humble, level headed and a bridge builder, accessible and has respect for elders, He has served in different capacity both at the state and federal levels with outstanding performance and we are therefore requesting that he should be considered as a viable choice for the position of the National Secretary of our party for equity and religion balancing,” the concerned Ife APC elders noted.