Osun APC Needs Repositioning Not Restructuring – Sen Ajibola

The immediate past Senate spokesperson, Senator Ajibola Basiru, has charged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State to join hands to reposition the party for the task of coming back to power in the state.

Basiru, while briefing journalists in Osogbo on his stewardship at the red chamber in the last four years, insisted that the party does not need restructuring but repositioning.

He noted that there is nothing to restructure because the structure on ground is built firmly on solid rock but that the entire machinery only requires repositioning.

He charged members of the party to cooperate with Professor Isaac Adewole-led repositioning committee set up by the leadership of the party in the state adding that he believe in the leadership of Chief Bisi Akande, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola to leading the party to winning ways in the next round of elections. 

“We also have responsibilities to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which success will greatly contribute to the success of our party in subsequent elections.”

On the status of the immediate past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in Osun APC, Basiru said Aregbesola, is no longer recognised as a member of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

Basiru said Aregbesola’s alleged absence in the state during the 2023 general elections and his lack of support for the party’s candidates were enough to question his membership of the party.

He said, “I can say today that the leaders of our party are Baba Bisi Akande and Gboyega Oyetola. Journalists, you can verify, we have had four important processes leading to the general elections. There was the primaries that brought Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Eagles Square. You as journalists, go and ask those people that said they have tent and their leaders, what role they play in the emergence of Asiwaju as the candidate of our party?”

“Even today, they claim Asiwaju is their mentor, he is your mentor but you did not deem it fit to support your mentor to emerge as the candidate of the APC. It is a moral question that they must answer, not me. I was at Eagles Square and for two years, I was visiting one part of the country to another without collecting any Kobo from anybody, working seriously for the emergence of Tinubu.

“Secondly, we had a governorship election in this state, did he vote for the party? Senator Adeleke said it, black and white, that they worked for him to emerge. I was not the one that said so. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu contested on the same day that I contested the National Assembly election, our former Minister, former leader was not around to vote for his benefactor and mentor. It’s on record that he didn’t come to campaign, he didn’t come to support the party and he didn’t even come to cast his vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“To my compatriots in the APC, I say that we all have huge responsibilities to work to strengthen and reposition our party in the State to put us to our winning ways in the next round of elections commencing from the Governorship election in Osun State in 2026.

“I believe that all exits invariably translates to new beginnings. My exit from the Senate has surely provided other opportunities for me to explore other frontiers for personal and professional development; political advancement and dedication to public service in other capacities, as Allah may will” Basiru posited.