The Conveners and members of the Oyo APC Peace Advocates were guests of the State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Oyo state today.
They were received at the Oke Ado State Secretariat of the Party by the State Acting Chairman and other members of the State Executives.
The Oyo APC Peace Advocates is a Body that has been dedicated to the restoration of peace and unity within the Party in recent times.
You will recall that the APC in Oyo state lost the gubernatorial election in the state to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP despite posting a fantastic results that saw the Party winning the three Senatorial seats, nine out of the fourteen House of Representatives seats and delivering a result that gave President Bola Ahmed Tinubu one of the widest margin of victory across the Country.
In his opening remarks, Chief Wale Ohuu, who is a Co- Convener and lead Spokesperson of the Group introduced Prince Niran Adeyoju as Co – Convener and other members of the Team to the Oyo state Executive Committee.
He told the state Executives that the Peace Advocates note with deep concerns, that Oyo State APC is factionalized along individual ambitions which fractured its structure.
The Party is presently driven by aspirations and ambitions despite the facts that Oyo APC has the most resourceful of Party men, women and youths.
Chief Ohuu said members of the Peace Advocates are not and will not be affiliated with any one’s ambition or aspiration but will ensure candidates for elective officer emerge under a free and fair process and procedure. Such candidates whenever they emerge shall be totally supported by the Peace Advocates.
He was emphatic that the Party must be victorious in 2027 and advocates for a return to the era of Party supremacy and adequate reward system.
He informed the State Executives that the Peace Advocates have been relating with the National leadership of the Party with a view to letting them know that the mood and tempo of the Party at the state level should allowed to determine the candidates for elective offices.
He pleaded for the understanding, support and collaborations of the Oyo APC Executives as the Peace Advocates shall embark on programmes, interactions with Party members. Strong interfaces with critical stakeholders. Positive Crisis management that will embolden a unity of purpose for the party
In his own remarks, Prince Niran Adeyoju, who is the Co- Convener of the group, said that moving forward, it must be mandatory for elected officials to be looking back and giving back to the Party.
He said in the past, Party Secretariats of political parties are run with levies collected from those who have benefitted from the Party.
He was concerned that the issue of funding could be an issue for the Secretariat.
In her own contribution, Dr. Mrs. Peju Esan thanked the State Chairman and the State Executives for holding forth despite difficulties.
She noted that it is obvious that Party members have been rejuvenated as a result of the efforts of the Peace Advocates and the tenacity, integrity and discipline of the Acting Chairman.
Dr. Akin Onigbinde, SAN called for rededication and discipline.
He charged members of the State Executives to lead by example.
The state Youth Leader, the Assistant Secretary and the Acting Chairman responded on behalf of the State Executives.
The Assistant Secretary of the Party in her response, thanked the Peace Advocates.
She noted that at times, the problems of followership far outweighs that of Leadership.
She concluded by commending the Leadership qualities of the State Acting Chairman, who she said has been living up to his responsibilities.
Oyo state APC Youth Leader in his contribution said he was overwhelmed with joy, seeing the composition and membership of the Peace Advocates.
He said they are men and women whose integrity are not in doubts.
He concluded by saying that the Acting Chairman is a Progressive of a high profile.
In his own response, Alhaji Olayide Abass, the state Acting Chairman appreciated the good works of the Peace Advocates.
He declared that the programs of the Committee are in complete consonance with the beliefs of the Oyo APC state Executives.
He said members of the Executives have been cooperating with him in his efforts to preach unity and peace within the Party.
He ended his short speech by saying that they have mandated every member of the Party who have one ambition or the other to go and be dedicated to working for peace, unity and development of the Party .
The Oyo APC Peace Advocates started as a collaboration between the co conveners, Chief Wale Ohuu and Prince Niran Adeyoju.
The two prominent figures had conceived the ideas on personal convictions.
Prince Adeyoju had earlier commenced reconciliation efforts at the Ibadan North Local Government which has started yielding positive results as spate of defections into the party by members of opposing political parties are daily recorded.
For Chief Wale Ohuu, he was assigned to conduct the Congresses and Party primaries in Ogun state, an assignment he delivered perfectly.
He was also assigned to Ondo state by the National headquarters of the APC and he equally delivered.
His successes on both National assignments must have poked his conscience to find ways to resolving the issues in his home state.
The two prominent Party men met and discussed their personal efforts at some point and the other members shared the same vision with the duo which resulted into the birth of Oyo APC Peace Advocates.
The Forum had met with different stakeholders and Leaders of the Party across the state and the efforts have been yielding very positive results.
Members of the Forum who attended the meeting today are Chief Wale Ohuu and Prince Niran Adeyoju, Dr. Akin Onigbinde SAN(former Speaker Oyo State House of Assembly), Dr. Mrs. Peju Esan(former member Oyo State House of Assembly) Prince Gbade Lana(ex LG Council Chairman, former Hon Commissioner in Oyo State) Hon. Raji Razak(former Hon Commissioner in Oyo State) Hon. Hamzat Ogunsola(former member OYHA) Hon. Bimbo Kolade(former Oyo State Hon Commissioner, presently Federal Commissioner RMA&FC) Alh. Adebayo Haruna(Rtd Oyo State Perm Sec.) Engr. Wale Adeoye(former Hon Commissioner and presently , Executive Director, Ogun Osun River Basin Authority).
Hon. Bolaji Afeez Repete also a member of the forum was unavoidably absent.
