…Appeals to Governor to reconcile with Ojudu, Adeniyi, others
A nine man Peace and Reconciliation Committee which was inaugurated by Governor Kayode Fayemi on July 4, 2020, with a clear mandate to reconcile all aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ekiti State, regardless of age or status, has submitted its report to the governor, with recommendations on how the party could save its ship from being wrecked ahead of 2022 governorship election in the state.
The committee which was headed by a former APC Chairman in the state, Chief Jide Awe also has as members; Chief Biodun Akin Fasae (Secretary), Ropo Adesanya, Chief (Mrs.) Ronke Okusanya and Engr. Babatunde Fakoyede. Others are; Chief Abiodun Ajayi, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, Alhaji Teslim Animasaun and Hon. Olaniyi Olajide.
In all its findings across the 16 local governments of the state, the issue of Fayemi’s loyalists, otherwise known as Fayemi ‘Tokan tokan’ or JKF Boys, was central as a major issue polarizing the rank and file of the party. The committee observed that the issue has polarized the party structure so much that others were no more interested in the activities of the party in the state.
The committee also found out that none adherence to the zoning arrangements was noticeable in many Local Governments as seen in many local governments where there is lopsidedness in appointments and elective posts. They observed in all the local governments that party meetings have become secondary to meetings of the JKF boys, who the committee observed saw one another as the real APC members.
As a panacea to the issue of ‘Tokan tokan’ syndrome, the committee recommends to the governor to openly disown the perceived group as to stop further disharmony within the party and for every party member to have the feelings of belonging.
The committee also recommended that the issue of ‘Owo Arugbo’ which was stopped by the administration of former Governor Ayo Fayose, should be revisited, as promised by the governor while campaigning in 2018 to boost the economic and social life pattern of the most elderly among the elders.
Though, the committee admitted that the present economic down turn is challenging, members of the committee reminded the governor that the ‘Owo Arugbo’, was one of the government most popular policies at reducing poverty among the elderly during the 1st term of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi’s administration, hence the need to re-consider it.
After itemized its findings on none recognition of party elders and various groups and associations within the party, the committee pointed out that a Political Party that does not recognize the party elders and leaders might be like a stream that has forgotten its source.
Members of the committee observed that no matter how virile the young members of the party are, if there are no effective strong and loyal elders, youths might not be able to survive the troublesome periods that abound in the life of political parties, especially during electioneering periods.
While pointing out that the roles of groups and various associations for the growth of the party structure cannot be over emphasized, the committee recommended the need for the party and government to give adequate recognition to these groups, especially the Ekiti APC Elders Forum and the Afenifere Socio-Cultural Group and other related bodies within the party.
The committee also stated that during its visit to the Local Government Areas and to some critical stakeholders, and especially to the six Local Government Areas of the South Senatorial District, it was inundated with the request that come 2022, the party should, as a matter of on-the-table agreement, the South Senatorial District should produce the governorship candidate.
To this end, the committee recommended to the party to look into the agitation for possible adoption, based on the reasons advanced, which were majorly based on equity and justice.
In Ado Ekiti Local Government, which the committee described as the epicenter of the problems confronting the party, it observed that if the problems in Ado are resolved, the party would be in good stead to win elections subsequently.
Like other local governments, the committee observed that the issue of loyalty and disloyalty to Dr. Fayemi was also a major problem in the local government, especially between the ‘Tokan tokan’ group, headed in the local government by the party state deputy chairman, one Hon. Elesin and another group loyal to the deputy governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi.
The committee didn’t mince words in acknowledging that there was a very sharp divisive among leaders and members of the party in Ado Ekiti. It was therefore noted that none of the fending leaders were ready to shift ground and that it was dangerous for the party as this could lead to APC being defeated in 2022.
Another problem identified in Ado Ekiti was the fallout of the botched suspension of one time political ally of the governor and Special Adviser to President Buhari on Political Affairs, Senator Babafemi Ojudu. The committee swiftly advised Dr. Fayemi to change his attitude to certain leaders in Ado Ekiti, especially Senator Ojudu, who they reckoned in the report to be one of the governors friends.
While commenting on the ugly incident of suspension and counter suspensions, arising from the issue of litigation by those who described themselves as ‘APC Stakeholders’ led by the duo of Senators; Tony Adeniyi and Ojudu, the committee expressed its regret that despite its efforts to intervene in the matter, the group didn’t cooperate with the committee.
According to them, the ‘APC Stakeholders’ insisted that they would not listen to the committee unless the party structure was dissolved, a demand which the committee rebuffed because it didn’t have such mandate.
Meanwhile, the committee stated that at the initial meeting held with the duo of Adeniyi and Ojudu in Akure, the committee realized that ‘APC Stakeholders’ singular grievance was the ‘composition of the party executives’ from the ward to the state levels of which they were seeking for to total dissolution.
The committee also indicated how its chairman, Chief Jide Awe, pleaded with the group publicly and privately several times to sheath their sword by withdrawing the case from court, thereafter, seek for amicable settlement but they refused.
It was however suggested to Dr. Fayemi, who is the leader of the party in Ekiti State to bend backwards and extend the olive branch to the grloup to show to the whole world that there is nothing personal beyond ‘repairs’. “This is more so that many of those involved are personal friends of Mr. Governor, even beyond and before politics,” the report added.
On suspension threat, the committee stated that during the course of the tour, it observed that some wards were issuing suspension letters to some of the party members.
The committee was of the opinion that this trend should be stopped for with, adding that it was more so when state officials said they were obvious of such steps.
Beyond findings and recommendations, the committee made some observations which pointed out that a committee that was set up as a damage control mechanism, might have failed from the beginning because poor attention given to it by top political appointees and elected officers from local government to the national assembly.
While admitting that it was easy to deduce at their various meetings that party members welcome the committee and its composition and appreciated Dr. Fayemi for the initiative, they concluded that it appeared not acceptable to the Governor’s kitchen cabinet.
“Notwithstanding the acceptance of the Committee; there was palpable fear of the committee’s report and recommendations not being accepted by the body that set it up…”
Commenting on this development, a member of the committee, who spoke with our correspondent in confidence, said the governor simply used the committee as a distractive and engaging exercise without any plan for implementation.
“I fear our findings and recommendations may not be applied to resolve the crisis rocking the party and this may make our 2022 project to be tough. The first sign that gave us the reason that it might end up being an exercise in futility was when the Governor decided to re-jig his cabinet while we were rounding up our sittings. One would have expected the governor to wait for the report of the exercise and factor it in to decide which area or individual deserved to be compensated with appointment,” he stated.