THE crisis rocking the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday continued unabated as the Elders Caucus of the party in the state, called for the sanction of the former deputy governor of the state and a member of the party’s Board of Trustee, (BoT) Alhaji Ali Olanusi, over anti-party activities.
The Elders who stated this in a communique issued and signed by its members after a meeting in Akure, Ondo state capital, noted that the action embarked upon by Olanusi and his group is capable of hindering the success of the party in the next year general election.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the Chairman of the Elders Caucus, Senator Nimbe Farukanmi, described the pronouncement of the enstranged group, led by the former deputy governor of the state as unfortunate and uncalled for.
According to Farunkanmi, the statement credited to the group was targeted to plunge the party into crisis in the state, saying no committed member of the party would call for the dissolution of a performing State Executive Committee.
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A group under the aegis of Concerned APC leaders, led by Olanusi, had last week, called on the National leadership of the party to dissolve the Ondo State Executive of the party led by Hon Ade Adetimehin, over alleged anti-party activities.
The group who hinged its call for the dissolution of the party executive in the state, on the directive that members of the APC in the state should vote for some aggrieved candidates who defected to Action Alliance (AA) over their inability to secure the party’s ticket.
They also alleged the state executive under the leadership of Adetimehin of undermining the National leadership of APC through litigations, saying the Adetimehin led -executive had been indirectly encouraging aspirants to approach court over the outcome of the party primaries in the state.
But the Farunkanmi Elders Caucus, however, passed a vote of confidence on the Ade Adetimehin led Executive Committee in the State, saying members of the state executive were legally constituted.
They noted that the former deputy governor was aggrieved over the refusal of the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, to pay more than the entitlement of Olanusi to him as ordered by the court.
The communique read “that the Ondo State APC believes in, and strongly supports the State Executive Committee led by Engr Ade Adetimehin;
” That what the Alli Olanusi and his group did amounts to gross anti-party activity, and should, therefore, be appropriately sanctioned;
“That there is only one party executive led by Engr. Ade Adetimehin, as recently affirmed by a recent court judgement and one Elders Caucus under the Chairmanship of Senator Nimbe Farukanmi.
“That Alhaji Olanusi, Mr Isaac Kekemeke and their group never believed in the APC and didn’t work for the party during the last governorship election in Ondo State. How could they claim to control over 80 per cent of the APC strength in the State?
“That the leader of the group, Alhaji Olanusi is aggrieved because Arakurin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu refused to part with more money having paid to him the sum of N147m as his entitlements in line with a court judgement.
“That the group neither believes in the party nor attend meetings in their respective wards and local governments;
“That since the inception of APC in Ondo State, Sen. Nimbe Farukanmi has been elected the Chairman of the Elders Caucus, in line with the Constitution of the party, as against the strange Concerned Elders Forum
“That the members of the group are advised to retrace their steps and return to the party, so we can work together and ensure victory for our dear party during the forthcoming elections.
“That we, as elders of the party are fully prepared to support the party and Mr Governor to deliver Ondo State for the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of our party in the 2019 general elections;
“The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress believes in the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.”
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