By Michael Peter, The Sight News
Abuja: Aggrieved All Progressives Congress members in Ogun State stormed the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja to table their displeasure over what they termed Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s arbitrary exercise of executive powers in that State.
The members who were led by the Chairman, Ogun Central Senatorial District of the party, Kunle Adesina, frowned at the outcome of the last month’s Ward Congress in the State, describing it as an alleged attempt by the State Governor to substitute the names of some people who are eligible to attend the party’s non elective Congress with those adjudged to be loyal to him.
Addressing newsmen after a meeting with the Party’s National Working Committee, Otunba Adesina said the alleged move by the Governor was unconstitutional, stressing that the constitution of the party “is very clear on those who should attend the Congress and those who cannot attend”.
“In Ogun State the Governor has started exercising executive powers arbitrarily; that is why we said it’s time to speak up so that the national Secretariat should know what is happening so they can nip the matter in the board.
“From the APC constitution, we know that for a non elective congress, all that we need to do is to elect only three people per local government to attend the congress, plus those who are statutorily qualified to attend. But what played out on 29 July, was that a huge number of us were shot out. We were not even informed about the congress.
“Somebody like me, a whole senatorial chairman, knew about the Congress less than 24 hours before it was held. And some of our members who attended some centers to go and perform their civic responsibility, were chased back because the governor wanted to ensure that only people who are perceived to be loyal to him get the ticket to the Congress”, he said.
He debunked insinuations that his group is loyal to former Governor Olusegun Oshogba, who has been at variance with the Governor, saying that the perception was due to its outspokenness on issues.
“As far as we are concerned, all our leaders are our leaders. But we are perceived to be more with Chief Olusegun Oshogba, the former Governor than the present Governor because we are asking questions on issues; which the Present Governot doesn’t want. And we said we are members of the party and in the constitution of the party, there is no place for any emperor”.
He however expressed optimism that “with the intervention of the national Secretariat, all will be well and the family of APC In Ogun State will come out of this challenge stronger than we are now”.
