Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has expressed satisfaction with what he described as peaceful conduct of the rescheduled ward congress of the ruling All Progressives Congress held across the state, on Sunday.
Ajimobi, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Bolaji Tunji said that feelers suggested that the exercise went without hitches.
He, however, described Saturday’s disturbances at the APC state secretariat, which forced the postponement of the congress till Sunday, as one of those things expected in a political gathering of highly placed political leaders with vested interests.
Ajimobi said, “The reports I have heard so far across the state indicate that the congress went peacefully without any form of acrimony or rancour. That is what we have been preaching and I’m happy that the players have embraced peace.
“As the leader of the APC in the state, I’m also father to all and that informed my conciliatory moves. No good father will stand aloof while his children are at loggerheads. Thank God all have been settled now and we have had a peaceful outing today (Sunday).
“As the leader and father to all, I was able to douse the tension that enveloped the party secretariat on Saturday when our supporters were trying to outdo one another. All the APC leaders that came for the stakeholders’ meeting were well protected.
“I even shielded one of our honourable members from the House of Representatives from reprisal attack from those who attempted to assault him. APC is one large family. There may be diverse interests, but we are one.
“I will continue to sue for peace among our leaders and followers, because that is the cardinal programme and achievement of our administration. Our party and administration are known for peace and that must be sustained.”
Similarly, the ruling APC while reacting, commended the Ward Congress Committee led by Alhaji Musa Halilu Ahmed for the professional way it conducted its task.
APC in a statement signed by its Secretary, Hon. Mojeed Olaoya, also commended members across the 351 Wards in the state for what it described as orderliness in the discharge of their responsibility to elect new executives that would pilot the affairs of the Party for the next four years.
Olaoya said, “It gladdens our heart that the Congress went smoothly and was very successful across all the 351 Wards without any skirmishes or violence against the wish of the so called Unity forum.
“All the 351 Wards Congresses were monitored by INEC officials and all the Security agents authenticate the exercise.”
He then advised members of a group within the party, “Unity Forum” to always embark on moves that would promote the unity of the party instead of being divisive.
He said, “ It is surprising that they could be passing on lies that some aspirants did not pay for nomination and that there were fake nomination forms in circulation.
“The claim is spurious and unfounded. They are calling the integrity of top APC members deployed in Oyo for the exercise to question. This is not good for the image of our party in Oyo State”.
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