There is uproar in the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, following the registration of Senator Iyiola Omisore as a member of the party.
Omisore contested against
Governor Gboyega Oyetola during the 2018 governorship election, under the
Social Democratic Party (SDP), in Osun State.
Omisore has, however, been
reported to be fraternising with Oyetola, after the second ballot that upheld
him as the elected governor of the state.
DAILY POST gathered that
Governor Oyetola’s relationship with Omisore did not go down well with some
leaders of the party in Osun State.
A member of the APC who craved
anonymity said, Oyetola adopted Omisore through Governor Kayode Fayemi and this
did not go well with some leaders, especially those in the camp of the National
Leader of the APC, Ahmed Tinubu.
However, the Nigeria Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola after his revalidation with APC, on Friday, said the constitution allows suspects, murderers and character assassinators to register as a member of any party.
The Interior Minister made
this assertion on his Twitter handle after he revalidated his member with APC
on Friday, at Ifofin, Ward 8, Ilesa East Local Government, Ilesa, Osun State.
He said, “This registration
affords us the opportunity to deepen internal democracy in our party. Our
members now have a say in whoever becomes a flag bearer either at the party
level or in government.
“Though the constitution
allows everyone to register as a member of any political party, even if they
are suspects, murderers, character assassinators etc, but those who constitute
the majority of the party membership must represent the core values of the
party.”
“What distinguishes us in APC
are the values we hold. We value social democracy, to a large extent liberal
democracy and progressivism.
“There must be a clear
distinction between jolly good fellows and fair-weather friends who will still
leave our party when they sense a better opportunity elsewhere. In associating
with individuals, who you are, your character and world view must come to
play.”
Meanwhile, Kolapo Alimi, a
former Commissioner for Local Government in Osun State and a loyalist to the
former governor, Aregbesola, while speaking with DAILY POST asked the party to
check the background and character of everyone coming forward to represent the
party.
Alimi who is now a legislative
aide to the Speaker, House of Representatives, said, “In a political party,
there is free entering and free exist. You can’t stop anybody to register but
in this case, you have to know the background of those we will be electing at
the appropriate time. But on the character of everybody, the party should be
vigilant as to know who and who to pick when it is time to pick candidates.
“We should check the
background and character of everyone we put forward to represent the party.