A group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, the Movement for Good Governance, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to neglect members of the party who worked consistently for his election and the party in the last elections.
The group appealed in a statement jointly signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Segun Adewole and Secretary, Comrade Ronke Babalola, respectively.
They enjoined the President to be wary of those they described as two-faced politicians who worked against the interest of the party during the polls but are now lobbying their way to be appointed into positions, stating that now is the time to repay those who worked for the party.
They contend that President Tinubu has made a strong start with admirable policies that promote Nigerians’ interests and point out that all political appointments should follow the model of rewarding devoted party members.
In the instance of Oyo State, the organisation asserted that individuals making the allegation that APC members are today worked against the party during the most recent elections and that most of them do not deserve any appointments at the expense of devoted party members.
According to the group, only Barrister Akeem Agbaje and Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao did not leave the party when they were running for governor. Others, they claimed, openly campaigned for Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). At the same time, one defector even referred to the APC as “cancerous” on a radio show in Ibadan.
It went on to say that while Barrister Agbaje did not defect from the party, he did assume what the group referred to as a “Siddon look,” which was reasonable given the circumstances surrounding the selection of Senator Teslim Folarin as the party’s candidate for governor.
The group stated that Engineer Alao was the only candidate for governor who remained steadfastly with the party and gave his all to all of the party’s candidates, including President Tinubu’s campaign, adding that his contributions cannot be discounted in light of the victories the party achieved in the most recent elections.
It said, “We want to appeal to our dear President and leader of our great party, APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to tread carefully in rewarding those who worked against the party during the last polls with appointments. To us, people who did not work for the party do not deserve any reward; rather, appointments should be for loyal party members who toiled day and night for the party.
In the case of Oyo State, both Barrister Akeem Agbaje, who though employed a siddon look approach but did not work against the party and Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao, a loyal party member who stood for its success by supporting financially all the candidates of the party during the last elections, should first be rewarded by President Tinubu before any other.
The group then urged party leaders Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Olusegun Osoba, and members of the National Assembly led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, to persuade President Tinubu not to be swayed by politicians who have bad intentions for the party.
