Facts have emerged on why the All
Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state is opening its door for some former
members of the party who worked against the election of Governor Oluwarotimi
Akeredolu in the November 26 2016 governorship election.
The APC is presently preparing
for the defection of the governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy
(AD), Olusola Oke, SAN, and others.
Party members have expressed
worries about Oke’s expected defection, describing his activities against the
party in the last election as unforgivable.
Governor Akeredolu had mentioned
severally that he was ready to accept members of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) and other opposition parties into the APC, stressing that only those who
jumped to AD to work against his victory were not welcome.
The governor frowned at those
perceived to have worked with the AD.
He had openly rejected a
congratulatory advert placed by a Senator from the state, Ajayi Borrofice,
saying he is no longer a member of the APC.
But party members, pleased that
the governor had placed an embargo on those who were involved in anti party
activities and others who openly worked for the AD, are surprised on the news
of Oke’s planned return to the APC.
They are particularly depressed
as they believed that since appointments are still being put in the cooler, Oke
and his followers may get posts hitherto reserved for loyal members.
A competent source who doesn’t
want her name in the print, revealed that the AD players resorted to
blackmail to enable the Presidency step into the matter.
According to the source, strong
and powerful national figures of the party in South West, led by APC national
leader, Bola Tinubu and his close friend, Pius Akinyelure, board member of the
Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), took the matter to President
Muhammadu Buhari.
The source said: “They told
Buhari that Akeredolu is acting stubborn and does not want to take the likes of
Olusola Oke back
“They told Buhari to talk to
Akeredolu to be magnanimous in victory and take them back. They explained to
President Buhari that Akeredolu has won his own election and has nothing to
lose again, but that he (Buhari) must act fast in reconciling the warring
factions because the coming election is Buhari’s election
“These national leaders have
blackmailed Akeredolu at the national level. They had already painted a picture
of a very stubborn person who does not care and never eats his words.
“The reason we are taking Olusola
Oke and the rest back is to correct that impression. Besides, the President has
spoken to the Governor and he has reminded him that 2019 election is coming.
“Ordinarily, there is no sense in
celebrating Oke’s defection, but the National leadership and Presidency have
forced our hands and it is now a matter of Buhari’s sake”, the source
disclosed.
The governor, through his Deputy,
Agboola Ajayi has already met with Olusola Oke to perfect his return to the APC
fold.
It was further gathered that
there was no negotiation between leadership of the party in the state and Oke
on his defection.
Oke, our correspondent learnt,
was initially on his way to PDP, where he contested the governorship ticket in
2012.
But APC leaders in the South
West, who allegedly sponsored Oke’s adventure to the AD, spoke against the move
and adviced him to return to the APC.
However, there are rumours that
the new Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, is eyeing the Senatorial ticket of the
Ondo south senatorial seat.
Some political observers in the
state are of the opinion that Oke should have remained in the AD and build the
structure into a formidable force.
Others believe that since another
election is around the corner, the APC needs political bigwigs so as to win
elections and remain relevant in power.
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