The federal government has directed all members of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) in Kwara state in the camp of the Senate President, Dr
Bukola Saraki, holding various federal government appointments to resign
immediately or risked being sacked.
Recall that six members of House of Representatives from Kwara state were
among those who dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
during the week.
The minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the
directive at a press conference in his country home, Oro, in Irepodun
local government area of Kwara state on Sunday.
He also expressed the intention of the federal government to dissolve the
Senator Bukola Saraki-led All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state
under the chairmanship of Alh Ishola Balogun Fulani earlier adopted by the
national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole and conduct another congress.
The minister said the new development was as a result of the wide
consultations with all the stakeholders in the state since Friday, which
climaxed yesterday.
Mohammed explained that there would be another congress from the ward,
till the state that would produce another leadership in the state, saying
that pending that time, Alh Bashir Bolarinwa’s leadership would hold sway
in the state.
He stressed that it is unacceptable that members of the party who refused
to desert the party would not benefit from the government, while those who
have decamped to other political parties would still hold on to the
political appointment of a party they have dumped.
He therefore warned that if they fail to resign from the appointments as
directed, the federal government would sack all of them unannounced.
The minister, who said that the consultation’s that led to the directives
in Kwara state was with the knowledge of the national chairman of the
ruling party, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, urged members of the party in the
state to remain calm.
He however noted that the door of the party is widely opened to members
who are willing to return to the party.
The minister also exuded confidence that the ruling APC would win the
gubernatorial election in the state in 2019 election, adding that the
electorates will also vote overwhelmingly for the re-election of President
Muhammad Buhari and his vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
He added that the resolution of the party would be made known to the
national leadership of the party, who would also decide the date of new
convention for the leadership of the All Progressives Congress in the
state.
According to him, “For six members of House of Representatives to decamp
from All Progressives Congress in Kwara state, to other political parties,
we don’t need a rocket science to know,that all of them are no longer with
us.
“They cannot continue to enjoy the political appointment of a party they
have dumped, while those who are our genuine members, still in the party
don’t have such benefits.”