Destiny Forum in Ibadanland, a political group peopled mainly by loyalists of former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, has described as reckless and ludicrous, a statement by Mr Morounkola Thomas, aide of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, on the overtures being made to Alao-Akala by the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Morounkola, who is a political adviser to Governor Ajimobi, had said Alao-Akala would not be missed if he dumped the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and returned to the PDP which he deserted in the build up to 2015 elections.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its emergency meeting in Ibadan on Sunday and signed by Alhaji Laide Busari and Alhaja Tairat Adeyemi, chairman and secretary respectively, Destiny Forum said Alao-Akala not only remained committed to APC but had also been a stabilising factor in the party and Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s government.
It said since Alao-Akala joined the APC, he had been “a stabilising factor to both the APC and its government in the state,” restating the commitment of the former governor and the group to the APC “hoping that the combination and rapport of Alao-Akala with Governor Ajimobi is the only panacea that can take the APC in the state to greatest political height.”
“On many occasions, interest groups of diverse opinions in the APC and the public at large have approached former governor Alao-Akala with different grievances against the party and government in which he (Akala) has preached and sermonised peace, tolerance and understanding to all and sundry, basing his submission on hindsight that he was once a governor and uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
“This has severally doused tensions that would have erupted in the party and the state. This Alao-Akala has done as his own contribution to building a virile party and sustaining a good incumbent government. So, how come an inconsequential Thomas would say that Alao-Akala would not be missed if he leaves the party?
“Definitely, the pillars of the party who labored and dialogued severally to bring Alao-Akala to the party will not emit such reckless statement. Governor Ajimobi, Senator Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun will not say that.
“The purported talk between Alao-Akala and the PDP is fallout of an instruction by the national body of the party to its Reconciliation Committee to reach out to all notable members who have defected from the party, including Alao-Akala.
“To this request, Alao-Akala has repeatedly said that he remains an APC member and a committed party man who is totally loyal to the cause of the APC, notwithstanding the PDP overtures,” the group said.
It called on Governor Ajimobi to bridle his aides so that their “ludicrous statements, actions and attitude will not disintegrate the APC,” warning that “actions of fair weather governor’s aides like Moroukola cost the party debacles in past elections where notable party men were disenchanted and protested at the ballots.”
Present at the meeting were Alhaji Busari; Alhaja Adeyemi; chairman, Elders’ Forum, Dr Gbola Adetunji; Chief Wale Ohu; Alhaji Audu Marafa; Mrs Abiodun Babalola; Chief Akeem Olatunji; Mr Tajudeen Oke; Mr Kunle Ishola and Alhaji Kamorudeen Gbadamosi, among others.