A group of youths within the ruling All Progressives Congress, Progressives Vanguard has expressed fears that APC risks losing the next year’s governorship election if something drastic is not done to avert the imminent danger.
The group position was contained in a statement signed by the Convener, Comrade Jamiu Ganiyu, a copy that was made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Monday, the state capital.
The group noted that the ways many issues are being handled within the party without due diligence and caution have put the ruling party in the state in a serious mess yet there are no meaningful moves to correct the aberrations particularly in many of the strategic strongholds of the party in the state.
The statement reads, “We are following many controversies that the ruling party found itself in recent time with keen interest while there is no local government in the state that does not have one problem or another today, we want to take each locality one after the other to unravel the specific issues and challenges so as to provide leaders of thought the needed background information to address the issues raised”
“As the 2022 gubernatorial elections draw nearer, there are clear indications that the All progressives Congress might lose its stronghold in Ife zone, Modakeke, and environs which has always been a saving grace for the usually recorded electoral deficit in Ife since 2003 unless something drastic is done to correct the aberration if not late already”
“At present, Modakeke APC is in shambles as a result of high-handedness, overzealousness, and self-serving actors who deliberately created crises where none exist for their self-glorification”
“The party has returned to its yesteryears of sharp divisions, violence, deprivation, and eroded many fruitful efforts that were achieved before the 2014 gubernatorial election which gave the progressives a resounding victory of over 10,000 votes to the ruling party then. The same energy was sustained till 2018/2019 gubernatorial and national elections respectively despite the dwindling fortunes of our party generally in the State, Modakeke APC continued to achieve victory”
“For almost two years now, the once united family has crumbled and many very recent actions and exercises both within and that of the state actors have polarised the party further while party structures have completely lost touch with reality”
“Modakeke being a town that naturally loves the progressives’ politics and always stands by the progressives ideal at any electoral challenge was not only embarrassed but was rubbished in the last composition of the caretaker committee when the recommendations of the important organs of the town were jettisoned and threw into the dustbin”
“What the actors do not realise or treating with unbelievable levity was that these important organs have always been playing this important role since inception even when the opposition party was in charge of the state, this is connected with our history as people and entities. That the highly referred Modakeke Progressive Union and Ogunsua in Council would forgive this grievous error is still in contention”
“The idea of forcing a minority on the majority, recycling of unpopular and unqualified candidates are other Issues that call for deeper reflection and require prompt action to avert the imminent danger ahead. This was reflected in the manner in which the caretaker management was composed where democratically exercise organised by the party was completely jettisoned (EXCOS nominees based on shadow elections and recommendations to the state structure of the party) followed by the recently concluded wards and local government congresses where 30% was apportioned to the majority while the minority took 70%”
“The resultant of this grievous act has started playing out with the defection of immediate local excos of the party and other stalwarts to the Peoples Democratic Party while other aggrieved individuals in their large numbers deserted the party structures”
“The ill-treatment being received from Senator Iyiola Omisore by the core progressives in Ifeland is another factor playing out at the moment where founding members of the party are being treated as second-class citizens”
“With the recent increase of Modakeke polling units from twenty-nine (29) to eighty-seven (87) by the Independent National Electoral Commission, this would provide convenience and motivate electorates more than ever before in Modakeke and environs. Besides, this has encouraged more Modakeke residents/indigenes to register in the ongoing voters’ continuous registration exercise as we are one of the front-line towns in the state with the highest enrollment. It means there is a herculean task ahead for the party because the number of votes cast would triple if not more in future elections. It is important to note that as of 2019, our registered voters are over 37, 000. It will be moving upward to 50,000 with the recent development facilitated by INEC”
“It should also be noted that Modakeke voting patterns have considerable influence on the outcome of elections in Oyere, Famia, and Alapata all in Ife North Local Government while substantial numbers of towns and villages in Ayedaade local government is not left out such as Wakajaiye and Odeomu among others”
“More so, considering the support the community and party gave Governor Gboyega Oyetola in 2018 and looking at the great work the Governor is doing across the state, Modakeke has not had a good share of the promised political dividend with what other towns with lesser votes or outright rejection of Ileri Oluwa in 2018 have gotten in this government in terms of infrastructure and appointment of qualified sons and daughters into government positions. The much-published Famia road is slightly above 2km yet not being given promised attention”
” Besides this, there is absolutely no monumental project we can showcase to canvass and use as an advantage in the coming months”
“The earlier this issue is critically looked into, the better for the progressives”, the statement concluded.
