The Restoration Forum, a group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, has reaffirmed former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola as the political leader of the party in the state.
The group, through its Secretary, Johnson Ajilore, in a statement on Monday, urged APC members to use the outcome of the August 15 governorship election as an opportunity for reconciliation and rebuilding rather than division.
Ajilore said the party needed sober reflection, genuine reconciliation and structural rebuilding following the election, rather than grandstanding and blame games.
He said the forum was particularly concerned about what he described as the grandstanding of some individuals following the party’s performance in the election.
According to him, some members presenting themselves as political authorities and issuing sweeping judgments about the APC had failed to justify such claims through their own electoral performance.
“These are individuals who could not secure their own political territories. Some lost their polling units, wards and even local government areas to the Accord Party. Yet they have suddenly assumed the posture of unquestionable authorities on what went wrong in the APC,” he said.
The secretary said members of the forum were proud to have delivered their wards and local government areas to the APC during the election, citing Ilesa East, Atakumosa East and Atakumosa West Local Government Areas.
He urged party members to identify their weaknesses, examine their failures, strengthen grassroots structures and reconnect with the people.
Ajilore, however, cautioned that the process must not be driven by personal vendettas, political opportunism or attempts to settle old scores.
He called on APC members, leaders and stakeholders in Osun to demonstrate maturity and discipline, stressing that the party belonged to all its members and that its future should not be sacrificed for individual ambitions.
“We must build bridges rather than burn them, reconcile rather than alienate, and strengthen rather than weaken our structures,” he said.
The secretary further alleged that some party leaders, who were “loud in Abuja and nationally,” had, due to their personal ambitions for the 2030 election, sabotaged the party’s chances in the August 15 election.
According to him, we know them and at the right time, we will expose them so that the President and unsuspecting members of the party should be wary of them and their desperation,” he said.
Ajilore described the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and former Osun governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, as the “shining light and political compass” of the APC in Osun, commending him for his contributions to the growth and stability of the party.
He said Oyetola’s contributions deserved recognition and respect, adding that his experience remained valuable to the future of the party, particularly in its efforts to reclaim the mandate.
“Before, during and after the Aug. 15 governorship election, he demonstrated great leadership and continued to show commitment to the party, its members and its future in the state.
“His conduct throughout this period has, in our view, reflected political maturity, restraint and a deep understanding of the responsibilities of leadership,” he said.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
