Nigeria’s Communication Minister, Adebayo Shittu, has written the All Progressive Congress (APC) national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun complaining about the undemocratic tendencies of his governor.
Shittu alleged that Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his cronies are ruining the chances of the APC winning election in the Oyo State in 2019.
Shittu also said that the governor’s undemocratic ways and imposition of candidates with utter disregard for internal democracy, was likely going to cause members of the party to consider leaving enmasse.
Shittu’s allegation was contained in letter dated June 5, 2018, and addressed to John Odigie-Oyegun and entitled: “Appeal to Save Soul of All Progressive Congress, Oyo Chapter.”
He said Ajimobi had alienated majority of APC members, stakeholders and elders of the party and was running the party like a fiefdom where his opinion only counts.
The letter was copied to President Muhammadu Buhari, national leader of APC,Bola Tinubu, and senate president, Bukola Saraki.
It has has a sub-title: “RE: Consistent Decline in the Fortunes of Our Great Party”.
Shittuaccuse the governor of deliberately usurping the functions of the various organs of the party in Oyo, particularly the executive of the party at the various levels.
He noted that “the governor has displayed an aversion for internal democracy and has in its place entrenched a culture of impunity and dictatorship.”
Shittu said: “Since the governor won his re-election bid on the platform of APC in 2015, the party has lost every election in which it has participated in Oyo State. This is because, the governor in a bid to impose his hegemony on the party, has always ignored the views of the party members and imposed unpopular candidates on the party. Thereby making the party lose its important seats in the state, notably the by-election conducted on Saturday June 2, 2018, in respect of the Ibarapa East State Constituency following the death of the former occupant of the seat, Micheal Adesina Adeyemo after losing the previous by-election conducted in August 2016 in respect of the Oorelope State Constituency following the pass away of the former occupant of the seat.
“In his despotic desperation for power, the governor has in some instant shown preference for non-members of the party for the purpose of occupying key positions in government.
“From the look of things, if this culture of impunity is allowed to continue unabated, our great party will require the miraculous hand of God to maintain a good standing at the forthcoming 2019 polls in Oyo State. In this circumstance, I urge the national leadership of our party to look into the situation in Oyo State and caution Governor Ajimobi lest he plunges the party into bottomless pit from which we may not recover. A stitch in time saves nine.
“The unfortunate losses recorded by the party at the polls including the recently conducted by-election of 2nd June, 2018 is a consequence of the apathy foisted on the majority of the party members by Governor Ajimobi through his culture of imposition and disrespect for the democratic will of the majority. The question to then ask is why would a member of a progressive party like A.P.C hate and detest INTERNAL DEMOCRACY.
“The decision of the National Working Committee to unilaterally swear-in Mr. Oke, a nominee and stooge of Governor Ajimobi without following due legal and political process amounts to a pitiable show of indiscretion, lack of political foresight and possible political electoral suicide for our great party in Oyo State.
“A situation where our party has decided to side with a pitiable minority and fading political oligarchy in Oyo State APC instead of siding with the majority of our party leaders, workers and ordinary but marginalised party members amounts to jumping over the precipice. This is because most of our members, out of disappointment and frustration are already considering moving enmasse to other political parties. They have sworn never again to surrender or subject themselves to Governor Ajimobi’s of Chief Akin Oke’s leadership under any guise or colouration.
“It is, therefore, my sincere belief and prayer that our leader and mentor President Muhammadu Buhari and the entire national leadership of our party to take urgent steps to remedy the situation before it is too late.”