The train of the sensitisation programme of the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was taken to both Ilesa East and Ilesa West Local Government Council Areas of the state yesterday where the members and supporters of the party trooped out to identify with the programme in their thousands with enthusiasm.

The state chairman of the party, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, who was in the company of the state Secretary of the party, Alhaji Alao Olabisi Kamoru; the state Treasurer,, Hon Femi Kujembola; members of the state executive officers of the party and some other eminent chieftains of the party from the different parts of the state, stated that he was around to spread the gospel of peace and unity among the party members in the overall interest of the party.

Lawal told the members of the party in Ilesa metropolis not to allow their unsavoury experience during the last series of the elections in the state to dampen their spirit but should rather be the source of their fortification to emerge victorious in the future elections.

He observed that it would be a disservice to the souls of no fewer than 30 innocent members of the APC killed in Osun State during the last elections by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs among who 17 of them are from Ijesaland, if a minute silence by the APC members was not observed for the repose of their souls.

Lawal assured the APC members in general and the families of the murdered members by the militia groups of the state PDP that their loved ones would not die in vain as no one either directly or remotely connected with the extra-judicial killings of the APC members in order to rig the elections for the ruling party in the state would go unpunished through legal means.

The state APC chairman enjoined the aggrieved party members in the two local government councils to sheathe their swords and resolve to work together for the party which is their common nexus.

He told the leaders and members of the party to continue to make an overture to those members of the party who are still outside the larger APC family and integrate those who are genuinely repentant and are willing to return to the fold.

In Lawal’s words: “If truly politics is about the people, there is nothing that should prevent us from reaching out to our aggrieved members and the new ones in order to improve and increase our membership base for the purpose of convincingly winning future elections.

“Whoever is not a team player in our party is an enemy of the party who does not want the best for us. Let us discourage such posture as it is not only counterproductive but inimical to the fortune of our party”, the APC chairman stated.

Some of the leaders of the party in the two local government councils had earlier stated their challenges respectively which the state chairman promised to urgently look into with a view to resolving them and move the party forward.

Mr Erastus Awortu, Chairman, Andoni local Area Council in Rivers, has urged politicians and electorate to place unity and progress of the area above political ambitions during the forthcoming elections.

Awortu gave the advice during a strategic peace sensitization on Thursday at Ngo, the Council’s headquarter.

News reports that the meeting was attended by candidates of the political parties, traditional rulers and the electorate.

Awortu said that meeting was initiated to chart ways on achieving a violent-free exercise.

According to him, the meeting became necessary to offer an opportunity for a sober reflection considering past election related crises so far recorded in the area council.

“This is a very important engagement because the future of Andoni is our collective responsibility and we are expected to guard it jealously, political actors should ponder on the need for a peaceful process.

“Recently, there had been disturbing signs and name-calling which has made this meeting very necessary to enable all political actors refrain from activities capable of plunging the area into crises,” he said.

Similarly, a member of the Andoni Traditional Rulers Council, Chief Benson Egwere, on behalf of the group, commended the Chairman’s security consciousness and pledged support for peace across their communities.

Various Candidates of the political parties during the meeting also promised cooperation towards sustainable peace during and after the general elections.

Report recalls that Andoni local government area had in the past repeatedly suffered election related crises leading to deaths.

Two former local government chairmen were allegedly murdered during the 2019 general elections.