Kwara APC exco alleges Gov. Abdulrazaq of financing rebels, says BOB remains authentic chairman

• Lashes out at party Secretary, PRO

Following the lingering purported infight within the ranks of Kwara State All Progressives Congress, APC, the party’s Vice Chairman (Kwara North Senatorial District), Chief T.A.S Oyebiyi in a press conference held on the 2nd, February at the Party’s Secretariat in Ilorin alleged Governor AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman of being the arrowhead of rebellion within the party.

He further reaffirmed that Bolarinwa Omolaja Bashir remains the authentic chairman, thereby squashing rumour that the ruling party is being rocked with serious squabble, stressing that the “so-called aggrieved group” are out to garner relevance.

The statement read in parts: “Gentlemen of the press, it has become imperative to address you against the background of an earlier press conference delivered by a group who referred to themselves as aggrieved members of the State Exco of APC, Kwara State chapter.

“I will need to restate that there is only one body of State Executive members and Hon Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa remains its undisputed Chairman.

“Any other so-called aggrieved group are made of fantasizers who are trying to gain relevance through mischief and party destruct agenda.

“There is no doubt that even amongst you gentlemen of the fourth estate of the realm you are aware about the genesis of our party’s challenges.”

Mr. Oyebiyi, however maintained that the party chairman shows maximum transparency in leading the party.

“Hon. Bolarinwa cannot be more transparent than he has proven. The system of financial operations of the Party requires not less than 3 party officials to sign cheques.

“How will Mustapha Ishowo (aggrieved secretary) claim ignorance of how the party monies, especially donations from aspirants was spent as one of the signatories?

“In addition to being a signatory, he (Ishowo) is the only receiver of the account transaction notifications.

“A man of honour does not turn his back or deny a decision of which he was not only part of but also benefited immensely from.

“It is well known to all party men that the party conducted primaries which was fully sponsored by the State Chapter of the APC. No money was received from the national headquarters of the party for the purpose.”

He debunked rumour that Hon. Minister For information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is sponsoring cabal to disrupt the party’s activities, saying Gov. AbdulRazaq AbduRahman had evaded attempts by party’s elders to resolve the issues within the party’s leadership.

“Their reference to a cabal within the party led by Alh. Lai Mohammed, Hon. Minister for Information and Culture is petty, childish and laughable: They are afraid of their own shadows and in going down, they are willing to pull any strand with them. The APC will outline many of them. If the memories of these aggrieved people is short, we cannot be accused of same. The struggle to win election was fierce and challenging.

“During this period of ‘iponju’ (tribulation), it was only Alhaji Lai Mohammed that we saw… he sponsored sensitization programmes, provided logistics and other such supports requested from him. He stood by us and together we navigated the rough roads to victory. This is not news to our traducers, they only choose the path of mischief.

“At this juncture, we need to reiterate that contrary to the norm, there is a gaping disconnect between the Governor and the party and between the Governor and revered party elders. There is no crisis within the party.

“This scenario has been in place since after the party primaries, during and indeed after the elections. Severally, party elders had tried to wade into the matter by meeting with the State Party Chairman, the Hon. Minister of Information and the Governor himself. However, a follow up meeting with the Governor to resolve the areas of differences has not been possible because the Governor has refused to grant audience to the elders.

“Suffice to say that while we blame the aggrieved Exco members for taking the party for granted, it is however a case of the proverbial ‘hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob’. All indications point to the Governor being behind the rebellion of these group. It is a well-known fact that all hands were on deck during the election under the aegis of one APC, it was after victory had been won, that splinter groups with a recurring “AA” acronym began to spring up. The promoters of these groups have acted in ways inimical to the constitution of the party. Their activities presupposes a parallel structure to the party structure and they have bandied the name of the Governor as giving approval to their activities. Not once has the Governor or his representatives come out to denounce them, rather they are financed from Government House. The turn coat Publicity secretary has revealed that much in his garrulous radio programmes.”