What could have been responsible for the present rift among some members of the Kwara State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), barely a year after landslide victories in all rounds of elections in the state remains a puzzle that must be unearthed if the party would make the much-needed impact in the socio, political and economic lives of the people of the state.
The spirit holding ‘O To Ge’ movement together appears broken at present, while the people are looking for answers to what could have gone wrong, leading to members of the same camp jostling for superiority, relevance and stoking embers of crisis.
In the present line up of political leadership in the state are; the state Governor, Mallam AbdulRahaman AbdulRasak, the Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Layiwola Mohammed, the Minister of State for Transport, Senator Gbemisola Rukayat Saraki, the state’s APC Chairman, Bashiru Omolaja Bolarinwa, Senator Makanjuola Suleiman Ajadi, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo, Dr. Rex Kolawole Olawoye, Chief Stephen Wole Oke, Senators Lola Ashiru, Yahaya Oloriegbe and Yekeen Alajagbusi.
The list also has; Cook Olododo, Moshood Mustapha, mallam Ishiaq Modibo Kawu, Femi Yusuf, among others. There is now a parallel lines among these politicians and no one knows how soon they will find meeting points. These notable politicians are the ones who plotted the collapse of the Saraki political hegemony that was headed by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Already, two clear factions have appeared within the party in the state. These are ‘AA’ faction, allegedly being led by the state Governor and ‘BOB’ group, under the control of the part
Conspicuous on ‘AA’ side are Senator Ajadi and Chief Oke, the Jagunmolu of Shao town in Moro Local Government Area (LGA). Driving the soul of the ‘BOB’ camp according to sources are the two serving ministers, (Mohammed and Saraki) and Oyedepo.
For Olawoye, he confesses “neutrality”, just as he attempted to underplay the enthronement of factions, preferring to describe it as a rift. According to the pharmacist turned a politician, “the concept of a factions connote that from the head to the base the party is polarized. No, this is not the true picture. We are having one chairman, one secretary and so on. But nevertheless, political skirmishes will not augur well for our political growth in Kwara.”
However, it was reported on one of the local radio stations in Ilorin a few days ago that the chairman was allegedly urging those trying to form a parallel group of the executive of the party in the state to refrain from doing so, citing “anti-party activities.”
But Oke noted; “some three months ago, I used to tell journalists that there was no faction within our party. But today, I can’t hide under a finger anymore and I need to disclose that two basic factions now exit. This will not however do us any good. We need this reconciliation faster than expected. But I need not pretend to you about it, I am on the side of the Governor.
“He is the statutory leader of the party in the state. If I fail to lend him my support and pledge my loyalty to him, then our struggles and votes over the years would have been in vain.’’
What then could have been the reasons for the ‘rift’ or factions within the party? None of the members in the crisis was willing to let out the cat from the bag. But sources under anonymity said the acrimony could not be divorced from alleged money brought twice into Ilorin, the state capital in two helicopters during the last round of elections in the state.
The first time the tranche of money was brought was during a rerun election into Offa/Oyun/Irepodun Federal Constituency, won by the APC candidate Olawuyi AbdulRaheem. The seat was declared vacant due to the unfortunate death of Funke Deborah Adedoyin. The funds according to The Guardian checks were put at N100 million.
According to a source, “the money was meant to give