The Elders Caucus of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has on Tuesday held a meeting with the first Interim Chairman of the party, Chief Adebisi Akande, over the crisis rocking the party and re-election of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in 2022, AMILOADED reports.
The meeting, which lasted for over 2hours, was hosted by Chief Akande at his residence in Ila, Osun State.
The meeting was attended by 29 elders of the party including Hon Lasun Yusuf, Ex-deputy governor, Titilaoye Ponle, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Prince Felix Awofisayo, Prof Mojeed Alabi, former minister, Dr Isaac Adewole, Olosunjela of Osunjela, Oba Muhammed Babatunde, Senator Ajibola Basiru, among others.
It was gathered that the meeting started around 11:45 am and ended at 1:30 pm as former governors, senators, ex-deputy governor, deputy speaker House of Representatives and big wig of the APC deliberated extensively about the ruling party.
A source, who spoke to newsmen, said, “Chief Bisi Akande presided over the meeting. We deliberated on the crisis rocking our party and ways in solving them since congresses are now over. We talked about the reelection of Adegboyega Oyetola and the need for the party to mobilise support for him so that we can win the 2022 governorship election.
“We also inducted seven members into the Elders Caucus today. This will strengthen our party to win the election because of the calibre of people we have, no party in Osun State can contend with them.”
Another source further disclosed that “The former deputy speaker, House of Assembly, RT. Hon Lasun Yusuf expressed displeasure for ill treatment meted out for him by the leadership of the party before the 2018 governorship election and 2019 general election.
“Baba Akande and Chairman of Elders Caucus, Chief Sola Akinwumi urged aggrieved members to sheath their sword and mobilize support for Oyetola’s reelection in 2022.”
Meanwhile, Chief Akande, while briefing journalists after the meeting, said, “I expect a bigger, greater and widespread APC in Osun State. The meeting had always existed but because of COVID-19, the meeting had not been held for a very long time. I want to wake them up and make them know that they are elders in Osun so that they can start holding meetings. This is the beginning of elders activities to move the party forward in Osun.
“We are doing all our best to resolve every crisis, I can assure you that there will be no crisis within our party before the gubernatorial election. We came from different constituencies in Osun and we are going back to let our people know we have started to be more active than before,” he stated.
The APC Chieftain further boasted that the candidate of the party would emerge winner in the 2022 Osun State governorship election.
Chief Akande, while responding to APC zoning presidency to the south, added, “My party has no constitution for zoning, the south will be ready to contend with the north, whoever that becomes our candidate will win as the presidential election.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of Elders Caucus, Chief Sola Akinwumi, stated, “It is the congregation of elders within the state towards actualising good party politicking in Osun state and ensuring that all members of our party do register and play their roles at the 2022 governorship election.
“As far as I am concerned, Governor Aregbesola is a democrat, he will support us, he suppose to be here, we respect him a lot, he is part of the Elders’ caucus. Among us today we have about two or three former governors. Rauf will certainly not do any other thing than standing with progressive so nothing to worry about.”
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