Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has blamed Oyo state Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, for the recent failures of All Progressives Party (APC) in the state.
In a letter addressed to the APC National Chairman, Shittu said the “undemocratic” actions of the governor had cost the APC dearly as it has lost every election in the state since 2015 when Mr Ajimobi was reelected.
He accused Ajimobi of running the affairs of the party like a dictator by usurping the functions of the various organs in the state, notably the executive of the party at the various levels.
“Rather than allow the wishes of the majority to prevail, the governor has always single-handedly imposed his will on the party without due consultation with party members, elders and stakeholders.
“The effect of the above is that since 2015 when Governor Ajimobi won his re-election bid on the platform of the party, the party has lost every election in which it has participated in Oyo state.
“This is because, the governor, in a bid to impose his hegemony on the party, has always ignored the views of party members and imposed unpopular candidates on the party. I will give a breakdown of the losses suffered by the party,” he said.
He made reference to how the APC lost the bye-election conducted in August 2016 in respect of the Oorelope State Constituency following the death of the former occupant of the seat and also the bye-election conducted last Saturday in respect of the Ibarapa East State Constituency following the death of the former occupant of the seat, Hon. Michael Adesina Adeyemo.
Shittu further accused the state governor of having preference for non-members of the party for key positions in government.
He said Ajimobi had directed members of the House of Assembly to vote for Hon. Joshua Olagunju Ojo, who then occupied the Office of Minority Leader on account of his membership of the Labour Party.
“These, the governor did to the detriment of the party all because of his selfish motive. The rest is now history as the said Minority Leader emerged Speaker based on the shenanigans of the governor”, he added.
