Wale JAGUN
In its effort to resolve the fallout of the controversies that characterised the just concluded Ward Congress and prevent a repeat during the forthcoming Local Government Congress, leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other major stakeholders in the party converged on Friday, May 11, 2018, on Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat to deliberate on the way forward.
A major decision taken at the high powered meeting was the resolution that all ward excos who had spent a term in office should be allowed to return.
The uncertainty which surrounded the return of the ward excos for a second term is responsible for the discord which is tearing the party apart and also was the reason why last Saturday’s Congress was inconclusive in most of the six councils of the division.
THE IMPACT equally gathered that it was also resolved at the meeting that party leaders and other major stakeholders should return to their respective councils to implement the decision taken at the meeting and also resolve other contending issues among the two major groups of the party, The Mandate Group (TMG) and Justice Forum (JF).
A reliable source who was present at the closed door meeting informed THE IMPACT that the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State and chieftain of the ruling party in the division, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, appealed to the charged audience that the lingering matter tearing the party apart should be resolved amicably among the groups.
He was said to have stated that those who have spent a term as excos at the ward level of the party should be allowed to return for another term.
“The DG (former deputy governor) was aware of the position of majority of the party members and could sensed the tension that pervaded the atmosphere which informed his fatherly pronouncement. He knew that the position of some people was against the directive given by our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu”, the source stated.
“It was a popular call when he stated that those that had served for a term should be allowed to return as party excos which was the position of our national leaders.
“The position was supported without any dissension by the leaders present at the meeting”, he submitted.
Another source who was at the meeting informed THE IMPACT that a position canvassed by a major stakeholder that the decision to return the ward excos for another term should be should be committed to voting was turned down.
“The position of Prince Ogunleye was a popular one for the stakeholders across lkorodu division. The leader felt the impulse of the people and was able to douse the tension to ensure that the meeting was not disrupted.
“Unfortunately, the position of a stakeholder at the meeting calling for election to decide the return of ward excos who had served for a term was not popular at all. Delegates at the meeting saw the request as an unnecessary reversal of the decision taken earlier ” he stated.
Alhaji Musbau Gafaar, Vice Chairman, APC Lagos East Senatorial District, was reported to have appealed to the stakeholders for peaceful resolution of the crisis.
THE IMPACT also gathered that Hon. Fathiu, the Executive Chairman of Ijede Local Council Development Area LCDA), was a major proponent of the return of the excos who had served for one term.
It was gathered that he called for the adherence to the decision in all the councils while also showing his displeasure over the attendance at the meeting. He alleged that some groups were allowed to mobilized their members to the meeting against the principles of the invite.
The Chairman of the Ijede LCDA, we gathered spoke the minds of many leaders and stakeholders at the said meeting.
Meanwhile, the members of the party and political observers in the division are keenly watching to see if the party would honour its resolution.
Other party leaders and stakeholders at the meeting were Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Hon. Babajimi Benson, Princess Adenrele Ogunsanya, Alhaji Rilwan Jinadu and Alhaji Taiwo Longe.
Also at the meeting were party and council chairmen across the six councils in Ikorodu division.
