The political atmosphere in Osun state has become tense after hoodlums went riot in Oshogbo the state Capital on Monday.
The thugs attacked Journalists when they stormed a venue where 11 out of the 16 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Working Committee were addressing reporters in a 14-passenger bus, carrying various dangerous weapons.
The Osun state APC executives were announcing the suspension of the Party Chairman, Gboyega Famodun, as well as the Secretary, Rasaki Salinsile, for allegedly trying to impose direct primaries on the party in direct contravention of the conventional delegate system.
The hoodlums, who were about 20 in number, caused extreme chaos and pandemonium at the venue as hundreds of party members at the briefing fled for their lives.
In spite of the attack however, the Osun state APC State Legal adviser, Goke Ogunsola, flanked with the Vice Chairman, Isah Adesiji; Assistant Secretary, Rasheed Bakare; and the leader of the Local Government Chairmen in Osun, Rufus Awotidoye, went ahead to announce the suspension of Famodun and Salinsile.
“We want to state loud and clear that we do not have confidence in the chairman and secretary of the party in the state again,” he said. “Therefore, we hereby pass a vote of no confidence on Prince Gboyega Famodun and Alhaji Abdul Rasak Salinsile, the chairman and secretary of the APC in the State of Osun respectively.”
The state party executives also directed Adesiji and Bakare to take over Osun APC leadership as the Acting Chairman and Acting Secretary respectively; charging them to lead the party to victory in the forth-coming governorship election.
See: EKITI ELECTION: PDP REJECTS EKITI GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION RESULTS
The executives also alerted security agencies to collective threats against the lives of certain members of the party in Osun state due to their stand against ‘direct primaries’.
“Finally, we want to inform the head of various security agencies in the state, more especially the Commissioner of Police, Osun State, that the lives of members of Integrity Group within APC, which cut across the organs of the party in the state across the 30 Local Government Council Areas, and the Area Offices are being threatened from certain quarters because of their stand against direct primary. We appeal to the heads of security agencies in the state to ensure the protection of our lives and property wherever we reside.”
Meanwhile, the embattled chairman of Osun APC has said that the purported direct primary directive was issued by the APC National Leadership and did not emanate from his person while making note of the fact that the party constitution did not give allowance for the suspension of the chairman or any other person, stating that such action must be taken according to the laid down rules and procedures of the party.
“Unfortunately these days, politics is being played by matured and immature minds. The direct primary decision is not my decision; I have leaders that I report to. I don’t see a serious political party that will suspend its chairman a month and a half to the election,”
Leave a Reply