The ruling All Progressives Congress in Osun State has held its State Congress with two different groups producing parallel executives.
While, the pro-Governor group, otherwise known as Ileri-Oluwa elected Prince Gboyega Famodun as Chairman and Mr. Alao Olabisi as Secretary; the pro-Rauf Aregbesola group known as The Osun Progressives (TOP) elected the immediate past Secretary, Mr Rasaq Salinsile as Chairman and former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Adelani Baderinwa as Secretary.
Voice of Nigeria reports that the two groups have been at loggerheads, appointing two different Executive Councils during the Wards and Local Government Congresses.
Addressing the delegates after his election, Famodun called on the aggrieved members of the party to join him in building the party to achieve success.
He said; “I am extending an olive branch to the members of our political family who are disenchanted to bury the hatchet in order to collectively work for the re-election of Governor Gboyega Oyetola during the next year’s governorship election.
“Let’s join hands together and perform our usual political feat of installing the continuity of the ruling government. The time is not on our side. Let’s work for the perpetuation of our government in Osun State through all known legitimate means.”
“I am also categorically stating here that in the spirit of genuine reconciliation, I have resolved to give an unconditional forgiveness to anyone who I might have offended me in the course of our political association,” he stated.
Famodun congratulated the new Executive members and urged them to work towards returning Govermor Adegboyega Oyetola for another four years in office.
He prayed God to grant them the needed endowment to function optimally in their responsibility.
Salinsile addresses delegates
In an address tagged: Rebuilding Osun APC For Posterity, Salinsile noted that the APC has witnessed a reprehensible retrogression in party management, membership drive and political activities in the past one year.
He said; “the worse of all is the avoidable division orchestrated by the highest beneficiaries of the party’s struggle. We all know that the Osun Progressives (TOP) came into existence to restructure and rebuild the APC and position it for victory in future elections. Our intervention has yielded positive result and saved the party from losing its members to another party.
“TOP has been able to resuscitate the consciousness of the party members and rebuild the love and confidence in the party. Without mincing words, I am happy to say that we own the party and we are the progressives.”
Salinsile promised to redirect the party affairs and revive the progressive tendencies which have been bastardised by those he described as opportunists.
He also pledged to work toward the actualisation of a prosperous APC and take the party to an enviable height.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
