A former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Adelowo Adebiyi has said the camp loyal to minister Adegboyega Oyetola in the party is jittery of the political strength and popularity of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the Omoluabi caucus.
Adebiyi was reacting to the suit instituted against Aregbesola by the APC for allegedly causing division in the party.
The former APC chairman, in a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo yesterday, said the litigation reflects the frustration of individuals who thought mischiefs, shenanigans and lies would negatively affect Aregbesola’s popularity.
He said those people are however surprised that his popularity and influence are waxing stronger.
“We read in the news a report of a purported suit instituted by Gboyega Oyetola-led faction of the APC against our leader and former governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on the formation of Omoluabi Progressives Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
“To the glory of God, Omoluabi is now a household name in the progressive family and Osun politics in general. That must have been giving the Oyetola-led APC a headache to the extent of approaching the court on frivolous claims.”
The former chairman insisted that at at inception, it had been declared that Omoluabi is a caucus within the APC and not a faction, adding that “We are the genuine foundation members of the party and we have no intention of abandoning the ship of the party as it navigates the most turbulent waters”
“May we school the litigants and their followers that a caucus or group is different from a faction and that the right of assembly and association is constitutionally guaranteed. May we also remind the plaintiffs that a group called the Legacy was formed within the APC in 2017 in support of Oyetola’s governorship ambition without any eyebrow from any quarters. What about the IleriOluwa group?
“The Oyetola-led APC has again shown its sign of weakness and inability to manage party affairs with lack of character and competence. We reiterate that the Oyetola leadership of the APC is inimical and toxic to the development of the party.
“Of a fact is the continuous move by Oyetola and his followers to frustrate any reconciliation move to unite Aregbesola and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They do not want the crisis they created through mischief and spiritual means to settle between Aregbesola and Tinubu so as to continue calling themselves what they are not. The political jobbers who had assumed leadership positions and directing the affairs of the party now would no doubt continue to fan the embers of discord for their selfish purposes at the expense of the party.
On the anti-party allegations against Aregbesola and some members of the Omoluabi caucus Adebiyi said they have continued to challenge their accusers to bring out evidence(s) to prove their allegation, which they have failed to do for over a year.
