Ekiti 2022: MOB toned down threats to challenge APC’s Oyebanji candidate as PDP inaugurates reconciliation committees

Ekiti Senator representing Ekiti Central District in National Assembly and one of the governorship aspirants of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Micheal  Opeyemi Bamidele, fondly called MOB, has toned down his threats to challenge the results of the shadow poll that produced Mr Biodun Oyebanji as the party’s candidate.

Recall that MOB had earlier said he will challenge the results of the shadow poll that produced Oyebanji as the APC candidate in the just concluded governorship primary in Ekiti.

But in a statement released on Friday, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, has sheathed his sword, said that he was no longer interested in dragging the party or individuals to court over the outcome of the exercise.

Bamidele said that though he harbours resentment against the exercise, his decision not to challenge the candidacy of Oyebanji was informed by the need to sustain unity and cohesion in the State chapter.

Bamidele, who alongside seven aspirants boycotted the exercise, had threatened to challenge it in court.

They alleged the exercise that produced the Ex-Secretary to the State Government was brazenly manipulated by Governor Abubakar Badaru-led APC committee.

But, in a statement entitled “Ekiti 2022 governorship primaries and my stand”, which he personally signed, the Ekiti Central Senator said he backtracked on his threats after critical stakeholders intervened and begged him to sheathe his proverbial sword in the interest of the party.

Bamidele maintained that he was ruffled by the alleged abysmal turn the shadow poll took and the betrayal of confidence but he won’t abandon the struggle to right the wrongs and make the party truly democratic.

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“Yet, in spite of my strong convictions as expressed above, I have come to some irreversible conclusions and these are the messages I need to pass on to all and sundry today as I temporarily break my silence on the way forward. One is to say that I have chosen to drop the option of going to court to sue the party.

“The other is to make it crystal clear to everyone that both my supporters and I will not defect from APC. Details of the reasons which informed these choices will be communicated at a later date when my supporters and I address Ekiti people and Nigerians at large. It is not just about me.

“It is about the unity and progress of Ekiti State and her politically undermined and economically afflicted people. It is also about ensuring that the ground is not prepared for reactionary beneficiaries to take advantage of seeming lack of capacity to manage our affairs as a ruling party in the State.

“I also must coordinate and lead my own aspect of this popular struggle in a way to ensure that my supporters and stakeholders who had been isolated from the mainstream of the party become relevant again, for anything short of that can only be a highway to nowhere.

“We have all contributed so much to building this party in Ekiti State and the management, as well as its decision-making process, cannot be an exclusive preserve of a few.

“That is the new reality that those in control, including our national leadership, must accept or it becomes a popular subject matter of a struggle around which a popular movement must be built. This is where I stand,” he added.

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Meanwhile, the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated Local Government Reconciliation Committees to reconcile members of the party in the 16 local governments in the state.

In a statement released by the spokesman of the Bisi Kolawole Campaign Organization, Lere Olayinka said the two weeks after the PDP primary election that produced Hon. Bisi Kolawole as the governorship candidate of the party in the June 18 election, reconciliation committees to reconcile members of the party in the 16 local governments in the State has been inaugurated.

State Chairman of the PDP, Hon Lanre Omolase, who alongside the Director-General of the Bisi Kolawole Campaign Organization (BKCO), Otunba Yinka Akerele; the Governorship candidate, Hon Kolawole; State Secretary, Hon Funmi Ogun among others, inaugurated the committees, urged the members to reach out to all aggrieved members of the party with a view to bringing them under the same umbrella.

He appreciated the party’s National Working Committee for setting up Senator David Mark led National Reconciliation Committee, adding that reconciliation of members at the Wards and local governments levels was necessary because the grassroots is the bedrock of politics.

The chairmen of the committees were Alhaji Lateef Ajijola (Ado), Hon Akin Awodumila (Gbonyin), Mr Abe Toyin (Ido/Osi), Mr Akeju (Ikole), Mr Ojo Ayeni (Oye), Hon. Ojo Oke (Irepodun/Ifelodun), Pastor R. O. Ajayi (Efon), Chief Bayo Adeosun (Ekiti West), Mr Lawrence Omotoso (Ikere), Chief Falade Alaanu (Ise-Orun), Engr Alaba Agboola (Ijero), Mr Ojo Oloogun (Emure), Mr Idowu Akinbode (Ekiti South-West), Mr Akinlapa (Moba), Chief Adenigba (Ekiti East) and Hon Oladipo Ebenezer (Ilejemeje).

Addressing the chairmen, the campaign Director-General reiterated his assurance that no member of the party will be discriminated against on the account of their position before the emergence of the party’s candidate.

Otunba Yinka Akerele said if he, who was a governorship aspirant and a staunch leader in the Repositioning Group is now the Director-General of the Bisi Kolawole Campaign Organization, others who supported one aspirant or the other do not have any reason not to join the train.

He said; “Our main target is to win this State for our party and it is your job to bring everyone together in your respective Local Governments so that we can win together.

“If there is anyone you are finding it difficult to appease, let us know, we will look for the person. To us, no one will be left unreached.”

Also speaking, Kolawole said he was just a product of grace and that he will not abuse the privilege to fly the flag of the PDP in the June 18 election and take the party back to power in Ekiti State.

“When we all work together and win, it is not for our leader, Ayo Fayose, it is not for Bisi Kolawole and not for Akerele. Rather, it is for our party, PDP, it is for all us and most importantly, it is for the entire people of Ekiti who are yearning for good and responsible governance,” Kolawole said.

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