About five years after Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and his predecessor, Ibikunle Amosunbroke up, the two leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) appeared to come together again.
On Friday, the governor hosted a meeting with some Amosun associates in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Although Amosun was not at the event, a personal assistant of his confidentially told this newspaper that the former governor gave his approval to the meeting.
The protracted crisis in the APC began after Abiodun was endorsed by the APC national leadership as the party’s gubernatorial candidate, despite the nomination of Adekunle Akinlade at a party congress organized by the then governor.
Amosun, who was the APC’s senatorial candidate in that year’s general election, supported Akinlade, who later lost the election as the Allied People’s Movement (APM) candidate.
Amosun also refused to endorse Abiodun’s re-election in 2023, despite remaining in the APC with the governor. This time, his group supported Biyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Abiodun won the election again, but his victory is being challenged in the petitions court by Ladi Adebutu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
On Friday, senior members of Amosun’s camp told Abiodun that they had decided to bury their hatchets and support the governor as leader of the APC in the state.
The group was led to the meeting, held at the Presidential Lodge in Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta, by Derin Adebiyi, who had been sacked as APC state chairman at the start of the crisis by the Adams-led National Working Committee of the Communist Party Oshimole. party.
They were received by APC leaders in the state.
Newslodge gathered that the move toward reconciliation began many months ago.
Tunji Egbetokun, the governor’s political advisor, was also at the meeting.
Welcome speech
Senator representing Ogun Central, Shuaib Salisu, who was Amosun’s deputy chief of staff, in his first term, said he was proud to be a bridge between the two groups.
Speaking at the event, Governor Abiodun commended the group for remaining in the APC despite the long crisis.
“I want to congratulate your sense of loyalty to the leadership, which I would say is not only commendable, but enviable,” the elated governor said.
“This is a culture that we must promote and strengthen. It is a culture that is rapidly eroding, it is a culture that we are rapidly losing. Loyalty is 100 percent.
“For some others, they move when things don’t work well, but for you, you stay put. This sense of loyalty is worthy of emulation. We must appreciate the fact that there can only be one leader in a party at a time.
“Even when we have ambitions and desires, we must submit 100 percent to the leadership and believe that it is in that submission that will allow us to prosper and achieve our goals, our dreams, our desires and aspirations, not by forming factions or separating.
“To those who did not leave, please let us welcome our brothers and sisters. To those who join us, let us show you a sense of loyalty. I can assure you that you will be fully integrated.”