The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended the convener of Broom United Movement (BUM), Fouad Oki, a loyalist of national leader, Bola Tinubu.
The suspension of Oki, a former director general of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s 2015 campaign organisation, was ordered by the state chairman of APC, Chief Henry Ajomale.
Ajomale, in a statement at the weekend said that the suspension is, “fallout to launching of a pressure group in the APC on February 24, the State Chairman of the APC in Lagos State directed the immediate suspension of Mr. Fouad Oki, a Vice Chairman of the Party, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District and Convener of Broom United.”
Ajomale explained that he had summoned the Surulere Local Government Party Chairman, Alhaji Shakiru Ajao and Party Secretary, Mr. Ganiyu Akanni to the State Secretariat and directed him to set up an investigative committee on Oki for convening the BUM.
The chairman stated that the decision became necessary in order to stop others from doing the same thing.
Meanwhile, the Surelere APC chapter has invited Oki to appear before the investigative committee on Tuesday March 6 at the Party Secretariat at Adelabu Street, Surulere.
The faction emerged just as Tinubu started his assignment as head of the reconciliation committee of the party.
The splinter group accused leadership of the party in Lagos of engaging in “illegalities, manipulation and marginalisation” against members.
Oki warned that unless genuine reconciliation is allowed to take place, the party may be heading for a crisis and a disaster in an election year.
“The resultant effect of this has been its incapacity to support our democracy as expected.
“Today, our party in Lagos State is fading into insignificance. Massive membership exclusion is becoming the order of the day with members withdrawing from the political space and constituting themselves into internal opposition.
“It is in the light of all these, that the BUM will involve committed party members who will bring moral authority, character and wisdom in handling the delicate issue of reconciliation, unity and accord.
“The current graveyard silence that permeate our political landscape with a ‘siddon look’ syndrome is very dangerous,” adding that political parties are vital organisations in a democracy, and democracy is stronger when citizens become active members of political parties parties.”
“Unfortunately, the democratic culture in our state is characterised by factors such as illegalities, rigging, oppression, manipulation, marginalisation and violence.
“Democracy and political participation are related to good governance; this relationship is complementary but appear to be antithetical in our political system. When democracy is abused, good governance becomes elusive and evasive.”
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