Oyo APC: Alao-Akala Not The Leader – Fayemi; Denies Any Endorsement Of Him |The Source

By Akinwale Kasali

Just like the crisis rocking the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress, APC, the crisis train has moved to Oyo State, and  polarised the Party in the State.

Former Governor Otunba Adebayo Christopher Alao-Akala has been parading himself as the leader of the Party in Oyo State, which has led to the factionalised the Party in the State.

Some Aggrieved Members of the Party in the State have distanced themselves from the party following the position Alao-Akala accorded himself in the State APC.

Addressing the issue in the Oyo State APC, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi denied that  Alao-Akala, has been endorsed by the APC as the Leader of the party in Oyo State.  The claim by the former Governor, Fayemi said, is false.

Fayemi said this in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, on Wednesday following the controversy generated by Alao-Akala’s claim that he has been endorsed as the Leader of the party by the National leadership.

The Unity Forum of the APC had in a statement on Tuesday also faulted the claim by the former Governor.

Fayemi  said his meeting with the leaders of the APC in Oyo State over the weekend was not to confer leadership on Alao-Akala, but an assignment by the National leadership, led by the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni.

The statement reads in full:

“Governor Kayode Fayemi was on an assignment on behalf of the National Reconciliation Committee of the APC in charge of the Oyo State crisis.

“Former governor Akala emerged as Chairman of the Party’s Advisory Council with other distinguished personalities like former Deputy Governors, Iyiola Oladokun and Alake Adeyemo together with the Party Chairman, Akin Oke as members.

“They emerged as automatic members by virtue of being the highest elected office holders in the party.

“Other Senatorial districts – Oyo South and Oyo Central are to nominate three members each on the advisory council.

“The main responsibility of the advisory committee is to help oversee the activities of the party through registration. At no point was any leader chosen at the Ibadan meeting.

“Governor Fayemi has reported back to the National Headquarters the outcome of the meeting of party stakeholders in Ibadan, and Governor Fayemi is only a representative of the reconciliation committee.

“At no time at the meeting or thereafter was any leader foisted on the party”.