By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo

When people are thinking about what the government can do for them to make their lives bearable as citizens, politicians are thinking about how to win the next election.

In December, former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola whose members of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Osun State chapter believe masterminded the defeat of the party to then opposition party, People Democratic Party, (PDP) during the last governorship election, revealed plans to announce his next political move to the people of the state.

Aregbesola and his political loyalists Omoluabi Progressive Caucus which was launched in 2023 have continued to separate political activities in the state.

The effort of the immediate past Governor and now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola cannot be underestimated to put the party on track of progress ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

In his effort to further strengthen the party Oyetola has successfully wooed Mr Dotun Babayemi and Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, alongside their supporters to Osun APC.=

Ogunbiyi had contested and lost the 2018 governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party to Senator Ademola Adeleke, who was defeated at the poll by the APC candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola.

In the race for the 2022 governorship ticket of the PDP, Ogunbiyi was among the contenders for the PDP ticket, before he announced his withdrawal, accusing the National Working Committee of the party of bias.

But Babayemi and his supporters held a parallel governorship primary, where he emerged as a PDP factional candidate.

The Supreme Court later held that the incumbent governor, Adeleke was the validly elected candidate of the PDP at the poll, laying to rest the disagreement on the matter.

Babayemi has not formally announced his defection from the PDP.

Also, the party has set up three committees which are reconciliation, appeal and discipline.

The chairman of the Reconciliation Committee, Alhaji Sule Aderemi from Boripe local government council was picked as while the members are Elder J. A. Oni from Atakumosa East local government council;  and Ademola Akeem Adesina from Irepodun local government council.

Other members of the Reconciliation Committee are Dupe Ajayi from Obokun Local Government; Sola Ogunfolaju from Ayedaade Local Government Council Area; Bisi Odewumi from Ife North Local Government Area while Bisi Ogunkale from Ayedire Local Government Council Area will serve as the Secretary of the committee.

Also, a committee headed by former Minister of Health, Dr. Isaac Adewole was set up at the state level to reinvigorate the party.

The chairman of the Appeal Committee is Biodun Awolola from Egbedore Local Government Council Area; Dauda Akinwole from Ife-East Local Government Area (member) and Yele Akintola from Ilesa East Local Government Area (member).

According to a statement by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the Secretary of the party, Alao Kamoru, disclosed that the date of the inauguration of the three committees would be communicated to the members at a later date.

“Alao also stated that the terms of reference of each of the committees shall be spelt out to the members on the day of the inauguration.

“The state party secretary congratulated the members of the three committees, praying that God would use them for the improvement of the fortune of the APC to accomplish its collective mission,” he said

At the quarterly meeting of Osun Central APC in Osogbo, the National Secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Basiru, stressed that there is no political party without dissension, but the best way to solve it is by employing internal mechanisms instead of playing moles.

“I’m happy with our members in Osun Central for not selling their birthrights for a pot of porridge. With contentment and steadfastness, our rank will swell, and we will sweep back to power.”

Basiru also urged the party faithful to steer clear of spreading unfounded information about the leaders of the party, stating that there are hierarchies and processes to get and sieve information about the party and its leaders.

Saying it for the umpteenth time that he and the minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola are on good terms, the APC National Secretary harped on the need to mobilize women and youths for APC to be more deeply rooted in the State.

Meanwhile, all things seem not well with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) as some members of the party accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of only appointing those who have Political affiliation with the ‘Adeleke dynasty.’

Some members of the PDP who are loyalists of the former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola are not part of the current administration and have not been participating in state political functions.

Recently, Barr. Faruq Abass, the Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Wale Egbedun, announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Abass tendered his resignation in a document shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

In a letter addressed to the PDP Chairman in his Ward, Ejigbo Local Government, Abass cited the hijack of the party by some ‘bootlickers,’ the failure of the ruling party to provide quality and visionary governance to the people of the state since 2022, and the ostracisation of party members who supported the governorship ambition of Prince Dotun Babayemi, among others.

The Speaker’s CoS also said that despite the substantial allocation to the Ejigbo local government, there has not been any meaningful development in the council area.

Abass is one of the loyalists of Babayemi, who has concluded plans to move to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) also put effort into making their voice heard in the state, the Chairman of IPAC, Pastor Victor Akande, told Governor Adeleke that they are not an opposition to the present administration but a partner in progress.

He consequently promised to give necessary support to ensure Governor Adeleke’s success in office, stressing that it is their success too in IPAC.

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Spokesperson for Governor Adeleke, Rasheed Olawale of publishing fabricated lies against Omo Oba Dotun Babayemi and Dr Akin Ogunbiyi.

Babayemi was a Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship aspirant in Osun State during the last general elections while Ogunbiyi, before his return to the PDP, was also the governorship candidate of the Accord Party during the elections.

The Office of the Spokesperson for Governor Adeleke had few days ago published story to be published in its last edition of Osun Spring purporting that a chieftain of the APC, whose name wasn’t given, had registered his displeasure that the defection of the duo of Babayemi and Ogunbiyi would disorganize the opposition party.

Commenting on the development, the Osun State chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, today, wondered where Olawale learnt his journalism, adding that one would have thought that Olawale’s current travail with the DSS, where he has become a fugitive like the biblical Cain for causing a defamatory story to be published against some VIPs in the state, would have taught the lying machine some good lessons on how to practise his trade with restraint, decorum and professionalism.

Lawal opined that truly, when the head is rotten, then naturally, the other parts of the body would be at risk.

In the state APC chairman’s words: “There is no gainsaying the fact that Osun State is so unfortunate to have had someone like Ademola Adeleke at the helm of affairs at this point in time. Ordinarily, the media team of a governor plays an important role in burnishing his image when the need arises.”

“Unfortunately for the dancing and singing governor, his Media Office is peopled by half-baked scoundrels who equally need to be micromanaged. This is because they are criminally minded, clever by half and myopic.

“These lots, in their nincompoopery, think our party, the APC, is like their party, the PDP, that resents good idea and independent minded folks.

“Adeleke and his shallow-thinking boys in their self-delusion on Thursday, 2nd May, 2024, published in the rag sheet;

“While we are dancing and clinking glasses that the coming of the two juggernauts with their teeming supporters will further bolster our victory at the 2026 poll, Adeleke and his korope media are there deluding themselves.”

“Since their paymasters, on account of their greed and self-centeredness, have refused to see the value in these people, we have seen it and have so accepted them. The APC is solid. If there’s grumbling or complaints anywhere, it’s in the PDP and that’s why Omooba Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi and thousands of others are leaving the evil assemblage, PDP, for the APC.

“Today, who’s running from pillar to post, begging Babayemi and his supporters not to leave the PDP? Why is Adeleke patronising members of the Late Adagunodo’s camp with letters of appointments and money to discourage them from leaving the PDP?

“APC is a disciplined party that allows for cohesiveness. As such, the presence of Babayemi, Ogunbiyi and others in our great party will further cement our strength rather than divide us.

“We challenge the purveyors of evil and fabled news to mention the name of the said faceless ‘grumbling APC Chieftain’. We advise the distraught PDP to keep their mouth shut and continue to lick their wounds for losing their valuable members to us.

“Rest assured that come 2026, we shall send the figurehead out of the Bola Ige House. This is crystal clear,” Lawal assured.

Elders and leaders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, including Chief Olabode George, on Wednesday held a   reconciliation meeting to strengthen unity in the state  party chapter  ahead of 2027 general elections.

At the Leaders and Elders Stakeholders’ Meeting organised in Lagos, the party chieftains emphasised the need for forgiveness and unity within PDP to brighten the fortune of the party in the next general elections.

Speaking, George, a former PDP Deputy National Chairman and member of the party’s Board of Trustees , said the meeting was discuss the future of the party and the present socio-economic challenges in the country.

“Nigerians have seen the difference between the PDP and APC and obviously, Nigerians are yearning for a return of PDP to set the country on the path of recovery.

“So, the honest question we should be asking ourselves today is ,Where did we get it wrong?”

“My appeal today is to all members, young and old, from the north to the South, that we have another golden opportunity, before the next election in 2027, to bury our differences and put on our thinking caps.

“We should do everything humanly possible to ensure that the PDP does not go into the dustbin of history in 2027. God forbid this should happen to our party.

“So, this is the time for all elders and members of PDP to be concerned about the future of our great party. We should not allow the collective unity of this party to be fragmented,” George  said.

The  former Military Administrator of Ondo State,  said unity within the party chapter and cooperation of members were key to  future electoral victories in the state.

According to him, how the party collectively addresses the issues at stake will determine its  fate  in months and years to come.

George added: “It is our determination to ensure that the PDP returns to the Presidential Villa in Abuja and take over governance in Lagos State on May 29, 2027 but, we can only do this if we are united, not divided.

“We are where we are today because of self-inflicted crisis and now is the time reconciliation should be on top of our agenda.

“We should bury our Individual ambition now and not allow the PDP to crumble. We have no choice than to put our house in order.

“We are brothers and sisters, so we should put on our thinking caps to achieve a collective goal.”

He said that Nigerians were waiting for PDP in 2027, “but we must put our house in order. This is the time to promote justice, fairness and equity in our party.”

The PDP leader recommended that  zonal committees  should go round the states and zones in the next six months to calm frayed nerves and encourage genuine reconciliation:

While saying  PDP was the only party that could save the state, George urged members not to allow any sentiment-ethnic or religious- to divide the party

“Unless we are united, with equity, fairness and justice being the pedestal for any political decision taken, this party will be heading to disaster in 2027.

“If we want to win the 2027 gubernatorial election, in Lagos,then we  must have a very strong, iron-clad and formidable PDP now  and we .should not allow ourselves to be divided.

“We must change the narrative now so that we don’t embark on a suicide mission, a self-destructive journey for our party in 2027. Lagos residents are waiting for us in 2027 to kick APC out of Alausa.”

While commending the convener of the meeting, Prince Tommy Ogungbe, George lauded  PDP’s founding fathers such as Chief Solomon Lar, Dr Alex Ekwueme, Chief Bola Ige, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, for birthing the party and putting it on a strong foundation.

Speaking , Mr Philip Aivoji, the Lagos State PDP Chairman and Chief Host,  commended party leaders and elders,and  said that the meeting would chart a road map for a stronger and more cohesive PDP in the state

Urging all leaders to set aside their differences and work for the good of the party, Aivoji said that internal wranglings  had plagued the party enough and had hindered its progress.

In his welcome address, Ogungbe commended the party leaders and elders for attending the  reconciliation meeting, saying their presence meant they were committed to the future of the party.

He noted that the performance of the party  in 2023  was the worst in history and stressed the need to resolve all the issues ahead of 2027.

Ogungbe said: “We have never had it so bad since inception. There was a total breakdown of responsibilities and lack of unity among all tiers of our administrative structures were at disarray.

“This is among the major reason why this stakeholders’ meeting is so necessary for leaders of the party in the state to come together and draw a road map for a bigger and stronger party that will be ready to wrestle people from the ruling party.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PDP elders in attendance included Dr Abimbola Ogunkelu, a BOT member and Alhaji Mohammed Ashorobi, the first elected Lagos PDP Chairman .

Other party chieftains in the state and the  local government areas  also attended the meeting