Oyo APC Peace Advocates met with Elders and Critical Stakeholders of Ibarapa Zonal APC at the Igboora Community Town Hall, on Saturday, 12th of July, 2025.
Ibarapa All Progressives Congress Zonal Elders Forum, the G-9 is made up of three elderly Party men from each of the three Local Governments of Ibarapa East, Central and North.
The Critical Stakeholders, the G-64, include all the three Party Chairmen, Women Leaders, Youth Leaders, Party Secretaries and selected stakeholders from each of the three Local Governments.
Chief Timothy Alarape Jolaoso, the Leader of the G-9, Oyo state APC Chairman, Alhaji Olayide Moshood Abass, who is also a member of the Group, Elder Dayo Adeola, Primate Samson Aderonmu, Deacon S. A. Ayanleke, Chief TAA Adenrele and former Commissioner, Francis Wale Babalola were all on ground to receive the Peace Advocates.
Chief Wale Ohu, Prince Niran Adeyoju SDM, co-conveners of the Peace Advocates, Rt. Hon. Dr. Akin Onigbinde SAN, Prince Gbade Lana, Hon. Dr. ( Mrs) Peju Esan, Hon. Amzat Ogunsola, Engr. Wale Adeoye, Alhaji Raji Rasaki, Alhaji Adebayo Aruna, Hon. Bimbo Kolade and Hon. Afeez Bolaji Repete of the Oyo APC Peace Advocates attended the meeting.
After a brief introduction, Chief Wale Ohu delivered the message of the Oyo APC Peace Advocates.
He explained the objectives and the reasons behind the formation of the Group.
According to him, the Group discovered that the misfortunes that befell Oyo APC during the gubernatorial and House of Assembly election of 2023 were brought about by the way the Congresses and Primaries of the Party was managed at the time.
He noted that the fallout of the rancorous Party Congresses and Primaries created divisions and animosities within stakeholders and the resultant effects was the poor performance of the APC at the gubernatorial and House of Assembly election.
He told the meeting that members of the Group have embraced a code which forbids them from nursing an ambition to contest for any position and that they are neutral, not supporting any candidate for any position, except for the 2027 aspiration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is sacrosanct.
He said that the Group is not being sponsored by anybody but through the personal sacrifices of members.
He explained that the Group had met with Oyo APC Elders Forum, critical Stakeholders, elected officials, the Oyo state Executive Council of the APC, the extended Executive Council of Oyo APC and of course, relevant stakeholders outside Oyo state, whose influences might tamper with the peace and harmony within Oyo APC.
He explained further that the Group had also visited Oke-Ogun 1 and 2, Ibadan Outer City and Oyo Zones to preach peace and cohesion within the Party and that the messages of peace were warmly received and embraced.
He informed the meeting that the Chairman of Oyo APC, Alhaji Olayide Moshood Abass is a strong backbone of the Group who has been giving necessary support to the Group any time such support is required and attested to the integrity of the Oyo APC state Chairman.
He urged Ibarapa APC to embrace peace and work together with the Peace Advocates to ensure that future Party Congresses and Primaries are all-inclusive and generally acceptable to all interests and tendencies within the Party.
Chief Ohu admonished Party men to prioritize the interests of the APC over and above that of Groups and Aspirants.
He said that Oyo APC Peace Advocates are working towards ensuring that peace and cohesion is returned to the Party through enthronement of credible, free fair and transparent processes of selecting candidates and Party officers and urged Ibarapa APC to support the efforts.
He rounded up by giving the example of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, primaries that produced Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as he then was, as gubernatorial candidate for the AD in Lagos state.
He said contrary to the interests of the Leaders of the Party at the time, the generalities of Party men elected Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and he went ahead to win the election comfortably.
Elder Dayo Adeola responded on behalf of the Elders.
He agreed with the Peace Advocates that there were issues in 2023.
He said that Ibarapa APC have been consistent in upholding Progressives ideologies and that they agreed with the proposals of the Peace Advocates and will support the Group in its efforts to strengthen peace and harmony within Oyo APC.
Those who responded on behalf of the Stakeholders praised the determination of the Peace Advocates and eulogized Alhaji Olayide Moshood Abass, Oyo APC state Chairman, whose sterling Leadership, they confirmed, has further strengthened the APC in Ibarapa zone.
They said that, in line with the principles of the Oyo APC state Chairman, all Groups and interests within the APC in Ibarapa zone have become one.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
