Confusion in Ogun State ahead of Buhari’s Visit

Misunderstanding struck the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress as the party prepares for President Muhammadu Buhari‘s presidential campaign visit. The APC presidential candidate is expected to take his campaign train to the state on Monday i.e today in the pursuit for his re-election.

The party is presently factionalized with a part been led by the former state governor, Segun Osoba, while the other faction is led by the present Governor, Ibikunle Amosun.

It is understood that Amosun is sponsoring the governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement while contesting for a senatorial seat under APC in the forthcoming election. The Osoba faction has been controlling the affair of the party shortly after the party primaries which led to controversies.

A further report revealed that as Osoba’s faction plans to welcome the President, Amosun is set to mobilise various people and organisations across the state to the venue, MKO Abiola International stadium.

Osoba’s faction had issued a separate statement signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the APC Caretaker committee, Tunde Oladunjoye, announcing the visit of Buhari to the state.

The statement reads in part, “The rally, which will hold on Monday, February 11, 2019, at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State from 10.00 am, will see President Buhari handing over the flag of the party to its gubernatorial candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

“National and South West leaders,state governors and executives of the party are expected to attend the rally.

“While enjoining our members, supporters and well-wishers to come in large numbers and arrive early for the rally, we want to remind the members of the public, especially the security agents, that this is an APC rally.”

“We must ensure a peaceful and hitch-free event that will give Mr. President a befitting reception and make the event memorable.”

The Governor’s faction also released a statement announcing the coming of President Buhari to the state.

The Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, in the statement released announced that the President would meet with members of the state traditional council.

The statement reads,

“Public service announcement: President Muhammadu Buhari‘s scheduled visit to Ogun State for the APC presidential campaign rally and parley with the chairman, and, members of the Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers will now hold on Monday, February 11, 2019.

“All stakeholders are enjoined to please take note and adjust their programmes accordingly.”

However, the Osoba faction has accused Amosun of planning to sponsor members of the Allied People’s Movement to cause violence in the state during and after the presidential campaign.

The statement, signed by Oladunjoye, reads,

“It has become necessary to alert the general public, especially the security agencies, that the members of the Allied People’s Movement, being sponsored by the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, are planning to disrupt and cause mayhem and bloodshed at the presidential rally slated for the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta tomorrow, Monday.

“Intelligence reports at our disposal reveal that leaders of the surrogate party have been circulating messages to their members to attend the APC presidential rally in specific uniforms and campaign materials in such a way that they will be identified and saved from attacks that will be unleashed on the APC members as soon as the flag is presented to the APC candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

“The plan to embarrass the President and attack our members at the rally has actually been on for about a month and it is only being perfected now.

Governor Amosun is mobilising people who have been instructed to boo the President when he hands over the flag to the APC governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.”

“To prepare grounds for this machination, some hoodlums were empowered to paint some of the signages of the APM with black paints with the evil intention of ascribing the act to the APC members.

“This was the same thing Amosun did in 2003 and heaped the blame on Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

“Violent uproars will also be sponsored in some local government councils and development areas with a plan to suspend their chairmen who have been tagged as loyalists of  Prince Dapo Abiodun.”

The embattled Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, whose exco was sacked by the national leadership of the APC, Wole Elegbede, in a statement released claimed that the state Governor Amosun remained the coordinator of President Buhari Campaign Council.

Elegbede said the governor’s position had empowered him to be in charge of the presidential rally in the state.

He said, “Governor Amosun is in charge. He has mobilised all the members from all the polling units across the state to the venue of the rally.

“He has directed that all members of the party should be at the MKO Abiola stadium to welcome the President.”