SOS: Oyo APC chieftains cry for help over Ajimobi’s high handedness

*Ajimobi afraid Shittu as governor will send him to jail – Ibadan source

By Kemi Kasumu, General Editor

A source in Ibadan, justifying the fear of the Unity Forum members of the state APC, said, “It is necessary what the members have done with their SOS crying for help against Ajimobi because, the governor himself can organize political thugs to go and burn down the secretariat on for him to now turn round and say it is the Minister of the Federal Republic and his cohorts in the Unity Forum that burn the place.  You know the extent of collateral damage such can cause.  Let me however warn Ajimobi to remember that tomorrow, today will be yesterday and so, what he is doing, he will soon know the consequences because he will not be governor forever,” he said.

Very high-powered politicians allegedly believed by Governor Abiola Ajimobi to be capable of working against his installation of his own successor come 2019 are said to be currently under persecution by the governor.

The affected members have thus cried out for help in a statement titled, “Save our Souls from Governor Abiola Ajimobi”, collectively signed by them.

The signatories, who are of the Unity Forum caucus of the Oyo State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), notably among them a Governorship Aspirant and Minister of Communications, Chief Adebayo Shittu, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu who signed on behalf of members of the Senate from the state, Hon. Dapo Lam Adessina, who signed for nine members of the House of Representatives from the state and Hon Segun Olaleye, who signed the “Save Our Soul” statement on behalf of 18 members of the Oyo State House of Assembly and Hon Temi Adibi, who signed on behalf of 28 former Local Government Chairmen.

Others include Prof. Adeolu Akande, former Chief of Staff to Governor Ajibomi, who signed on behalf of the seven Governorship Aspirants on the United Forum, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, who signed for the Lam Adesina Political Group, Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi, Chairman, APC Elders Council of Oke Ogun, Dr. Busari Adebisi, Chairman, Ibadan APC Elders Caucus, Chief Francis Babalola, for Ibarapa APC Elders Caucus, Chief Biodun Alade for Ogbomosho Zone Elders Council, Alhaji Tajudeen Romoke for Oyo Zone Elders Council, Hon Ope Salami for APC Youths, Mrs Romoke Azeez for APC Women Caucus and Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, who is Secretary of the Unit Forum.

These notable figures in the Oyo State politics, who have raised the alarm over the governor’s “desperate” move to incapacitate them to achieve his 2019 objectives even as he will not be contesting as a person having finished his two terms constitutionally permissible, said the current statement issued by them was at the instance of a press statement by the state government alleging a plot by the Unity Forum to burn down the APC secretariat in Ibadan.

A source in Ibadan, justifying the fear of the Unity Forum members of the state APC, said, “It is necessary what the members have done with their SOS crying for help against Ajimobi because, the governor himself can organize political thugs to go and burn down the secretariat on for him to now turn round and say it is the Minister of the Federal Republic and his cohorts in the Unity Forum that burn the place.  You know the extent of collateral damage such can cause.

“Let me however warn Ajimobi to remember that tomorrow, today will be yesterday and so, what he is doing, he will soon know the consequences because he will not be governor forever,” he said.

Another source said, “Ajimobi is desperate about not wanting to allow Shittu succeed him because he does not trust the Minister will not jail him after he will have left office.  But ask him; why are you afraid of Shittu if your hands are clean?” He submitted.

The Forum’ s statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a press release by the Oyo State Government alleging a plot by our group, Oyo APC Unity Forum, to burn down the APC secretariat in Ibadan.

“We wish to call the attention of the good people of Oyo State to this false allegation which is apparently concocted to clampdown on our members and possibly commence their physical elimination as many of our members of late has received several threats to their lives.

“We call on the good people of Oyo State to take note of this plot by the Oyo State government.We remain committed to the ideals of progressive politics and are determined to rescue our party and state from the hands of undemocratic elements.”