Osun State’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has warned its members not to relate with the newly formed Omoluabi Caucus, a group formed on Tuesday by the immediate Interior minister and ex-governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
The warning came bearly 24 hours after Aregbesola launched the Omoluabi Caucus of the party in Ilesa.
Aregbesola during the event that attracted many people including his loyalists, described it as an association of like minds and progressives who hold dear the ideals and philosophies of the legendary Yoruba leader and first Premier of the defunct Western Region Chief Obafemi Awolowo; and ex-Attorney General and Justice minister, Chief Bola Ige among others
However, reacting to the launch in a statement on Wednesday, Osun APC chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, warned members of the party to be wary of the alleged antics of the leader of the group and keep the group at an arm’s length.
Lawal urged Aregbesola to let the APC breathe and take a deserving rest in order to be in tune with the political reality of the moment.
According to the statement: “Sequel to the launch of a political group, Omoluabi Progressives, by the immediate-past Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, in Ilesa, Osun State, the state chapter of the party has enjoined the members and supporters of the party in the state to be wary of the antics of the leader of the group, Mr. Aregbesola, and keep the group at an arm’s length because of its diabolical intention and motive.
“Is it because Aregbesola has lost at the federal level, Lagos and Osun states that he has resorted to lightening the gullible ones with pap in Osun State?
“Aregbesola should know that the Osun State APC of today is intact unlike those inglorious years when he was dictating the pace as the governor, the state party chairman and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
“It should be known to Aregbesola that the Osun politics of the APC extraction of today is far better than what it used to be when he would be the sole contributor at party meetings. Is it not surprising that Aregbesola has turned himself to an instrument of the opposition by his actions and inactions?
“What informed the formation of a group by Aregbesola now when there is no election around the corner? It is disheartening and disgusting that Aregbesola could stoop so low to have relegated himself to a sectional APC leader in Ilesa.”
But contrary to Lawal’s position, a former APC chairman in the state, Lowo Adebiyi, said individuals have the right to belong to any association.
He said the incumbent Osun APC chairman only expressed a personal opinion, and urged members of the party, interested in joining the group to first study the charter of Omoluabi Caucus.
Adebiyi’s words: “That’s the chairman’s personal view. You can’t stop anybody from joining any caucus. APC members are free to join any caucus if they see it as the reality and the way forward for them.
“What have they done with the party all this while? What programme do they have for the party? We have alternative for the members of the party in terms of activities and programme.
“So, people are free to join us. They should check our charter for the objectives of the caucus.”
Aregbesola ‘renews’ Awolowo, Bola Ige’s ideals, launches APC Omoluabi caucus
