The media team of former House of Representatives member, Hon. Kola Olabiyi, has issued a strong rebuttal against allegations of sabotage and destabilization leveled by an alleged “faceless group” within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In a statement released to acrossnigerianews.com, the team denounced the claims as a “desperate falsehood that is already dead on arrival.”
The rejoinder characterized the accusations as a “coordinated smear campaign,” designed to undermine Olabiyi’s commitment to the unity and progress of the APC in the local government. “This cheap blackmail, fueled by the pull-him-down syndrome, is dead on arrival and will not absolve their paymasters of their well-known anti-party activities over the years,” the statement asserted.
The media team further alleged that the media platform used to disseminate the accusations “unmistakably signals the brains behind this falsehood.” They criticized those behind the allegations for displaying “crass ignorance,” and challenged them to adhere to the APC constitution. “Instead of fabricating lies, their paymaster should properly guide them on what the APC constitution says regarding meeting coordination. Nowhere in the party’s constitution is there a provision for a so-called ‘local organizing committee’ set up in the parlour of their paymaster. The party remains a structured entity governed by established guidelines, not the whims of a few self-serving individuals,” the statement read.
The rejoinder emphasized Olabiyi’s dedication to the APC, stating, “For the avoidance of doubt, Hon. Kola Olabiyi remains a committed and dedicated party man whose only interest is the growth, unity, and development of the APC in Itesiwaju Local Government. No amount of sponsored falsehood can change this fact. His track record speaks for itself, and no amount of distortion can rewrite history.”
The team also addressed what they perceived as attempts to exert undue influence within the party. “Let it be made clear that APC in Itesiwaju Local Government is not a personal empire where certain individuals can impose their will on the party and its members. No one holds a monopoly over the party’s affairs, and the era of self-imposed kingmakers dictating the direction of APC is over. The party belongs to its members, not a select group of individuals who believe their financial contributions entitle them to control and manipulate its operations. Those who have consistently engaged in anti-party activities have no moral standing to question the loyalty of others. Instead of resorting to cheap blackmail and baseless accusations, they should take responsibility for their own actions.”
The statement reiterated Olabiyi’s focus on the collective interest of the APC, calling for unity and strategic planning. “Hon. Kola Olabiyi stands for the collective interest of APC, not the selfish ambitions of a few. The focus should be on strengthening the party, fostering inclusiveness, and building a formidable structure for future victories—not petty politics fueled by bitterness and entitlement. The senatorial ambition of one man whose loyalty is to the party is always very doubtful can not be used to divide the party in Itesiwaju. The role their paymaster played during the last general election and the last local government election was well known and can’t be forgotten in a hurry. Those trying to divide the party for their selfish gains will only find themselves on the wrong side of history,” the rejoinder concluded.
