A former Commissioner of Information and Strategy in Osun State, Oluomo Sunday Akere, has disclosed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has recommended the sanction of immediate past minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesolla to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
Akere, while speaking during a Yoruba radio program ‘KoKo Oro’ on Diamond FM, Ilesa, said Osun APC does not have the power to sanction Aregbesola, hence the need to approach the NWC.
He said: “Under the APC Constitution, the party in the state does not have the power to sanction a former governor of the state. It is the National Working Committee of the party that has the power to do that.
“I know the party at the state level has sent a letter to the National Secretariat and when it is time, the National Secretariat will speak on Rauf Aregbesola’s issue.”
Speaking on the expulsion and suspension of some of Aregbesola’s loyalists from the party, Akere said the affected individuals were those who worked for and took appointments under the current administration.
He, however, said those suspended have the right to appeal their suspension, adding that the party is now united in the state.
“All Progressives Congress in Osun is one under our leader, Gboyega Oyetola and the party chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal.
“Those who engaged in anti-party activities, the party sanctioned them in August this year.
“When we claimed they worked for the opposition during the last election, they kept saying they didn’t but they gladly went ahead to accept political position under the current administration. During the swearing ceremony of the Governor, they were there at the stadium. So, what will they use to convince us that they are still members of our party?
“When they were accused, they didn’t come out to say anything against it. Those that were suspended, under the constitution of our party, have the right to appeal their suspension.
“Although, some of the sanctioned members in my local government have come back to claim they don’t know how their names appear on the councillor’s list and that they didn’t have anything to do with the opposition party.”
Reacting, a member of the Omoluabi Progressives Caucus of the APC, Comrade Oluwaseun Abosede, said some people in the party who are hellbent on destroying it have tried several times to suspend Aregbesola from his ward but to no avail.
Abosede said the party did not do due diligence before suspending and expelling the members, adding that the party relied on hearsay to sanction the affected members.
He reiterated the need for the party leadership to call all factions together and resolve the issues to have a chance at the 2026 poll.
According to him: “It is a pity that a chieftain of the party (Akere) can be declaring that they have recommended Aregbesola’s sanction on air. These are the kind of attitudes that is causing problem in the party and led us to where we are today.
“They have tried to suspend Aregbesola through his ward members twice but the members did not accede to their request. Now they are going to the national because they failed at the state level. Are these people who want the crisis in the party to end?
“As a party, I believe thorough investigation should be done before decisions are made. Most of the people the party sanctioned did not know anything about the allegations levelled against them. The party only relied on hearsay.
“This shows that there are some people in the party who do not want peace to reign. Those who they suspended were not invited to defend themselves at any time.
“At no time did the party invite any loyalist of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and I’m challenging anyone to the contrary to come out with evidence.”
OsunDender
