…Governor pledges proper reintegration of old members into APC
Thousands of politicians that formed the political structure of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun from the 20 local government areas of Ogun State on Friday rejoined the mainstream of All Progressives Congress (APC) led by the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.
The entire Amosun’s political structure broke away from the APC in 2019 over political ambition to join the Allied People’s Movement (APM) in order to field Amosun’s political god son, Adekunle Akinlade, who contested against the incumbent Governor Abiodun of the APC, but lost the governorship poll.
The same political group, who moved from the Allied People’s Movement (APM) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in 2023 to field Biyi Otegbeye as governorship candidate against the APC, also lost the election. Abiodun emerged as APC’s governor for the second term.
But, the break-away members of APC made a political U-turn in Abeokuta on Friday when Derin Adebiyi, the old factional Chairman of the party, led thousands of Amosun’s loyalists drawn across 236 political wards and 20 local government areas of the state re-aligned with Governor Abiodun and the APC.
Receiving the returnees led by the factional Chairman of the Amosun-led party Executive at the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun lauded the old party members for their loyalty and being steadfast with what they believed in.
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“I want to congratulate your sense of loyalty to leadership, which I will say is not only commendable, it is enviable. This is a culture that we must promote and entrench. It is a culture that is fast eroding; it is a culture that we are fast losing. Loyalty is 100 percent.
“For some others, they move once things are not working well, but for you, you stay put. This sense of loyalty is worthy of emulation. We must appreciate the fact that there can only be one leader in a party at a time.
“Even when we have ambitions and desires, we must subordinate ourselves 100 percent to leadership and believe that it is in that subordination that will allow us to flourish and achieve our objectives, our dreams, our desires and aspirations, not by forming factions or by breaking away.
“Because by so doing, it only weakens the fabric of that collective union that we call our party. You must appreciate that there can be only one leader of the party at a time in the state, and that leader is the governor.
“As the leader of the party, I appreciate the task bestowed on me and it is my duty to work towards individual and collective welfare of our members,” the governor said.
The governor also urged all members to put the past behind them and work towards repositioning the party to achieve its aims and work for the socio-economic development of the state.
“Let us put the past behind us. Let us promote what unites us as a family. I welcome you back. The future of Ogun State is in your hands and it is for us for the taking. The same joy the father of the prodigal son received his lost son back home, the same way I receive you today.
“To those who did not leave, please let us receive our brothers and sisters back. To those who are joining us, please let us display a sense of loyalty. I can assure you, you will be fully integrated,” he added.
Yemi Sanusi, chairman of the State All Progressives was bound to be disagreement, adding that even in time of war, there is always a place for peaceful settlement of conflict, calling the returnees to fully integrate themselves with other members of the party.
Leader of the returnees, Derin Adebiyi said they had all agreed to return to the mainstream to contribute to the development of the party and the state in general, thanking the governor and the party members for receiving them back.
