Convention: Disquiet in Gov. Abdulrazaq’s camp over hijack of consensus process 

By Abdulrasheed Akogun

If information at Fresh Insight’s disposal is anything to go by, then there is an impending implosion in the Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq faction of the All Progressives Congress, owing to the hijack of the convention consensus arrangement sanctioned by the Governor, Fresh Insight has gathered.

Fresh Insight findings confirmed that the Governor had shortly before traveling out of the State, instructed his supporters to go and harmonise and come up with consensus candidates for all party positions in preparation of the party congress.

Smarting from that directive according to multiple sources, all stakeholders have since gone back to their respective local government and wards to convene the ward and LG caucuses to fashion out a consensus arrangement.

Investigation by Fresh Insight however confirmed that the age long infighting within the Gov. Abdulrazaq faction of the party is threatening to disrupt consensus arrangement as directed by the Governor, with the House of Assembly members and some appointees sidelining other power blocs within the Gov. Abdulrazaq camp.

According to multiple sources who spoke with Fresh Insight, the infighting is rife in Offa, Oyun, Asa, Ekiti and Irepodun local government areas of the Kwara South Senatorial district.

Fresh Insight investigation showed that Prince Sunday Fagbemi, Hon. Ganiyu Abolarin and Hon. Raji Rasaki have since hijacked thereby sidelining other stakeholders like three time Senator Sen. Simeon Ajibola, the pioneer Chairman of old Ekiti local government Chief Ezekiel Gbadeyan, Pilot Tosin Ajibola among others statutory members.

The source said “a supposed caucus meeting was held at the office of the Special Assistant, Domestic Affairs to the Governor, Soji Alashi, which had in attendance Prince Sunday Fagbemi representing Obbo ward 1 and 2, Dr. Raji Rasaq (Osi 1), Chief W. S Owolabi and Alh. Saliu who both represented Osi 2.

Others include Hon. Wale Awelewa and Chief Ayeni both from Opin ward, Hon. Ganiyu Abolatin from Isapa ward, Chief Adeyemi and lawyer Adeseko from Oke-Opin/Etan, Chief Ige, Chief Olosunde (Obbo ile), Otunba Taiwo Joseph, Hon. Bayode, Akin Bamidele and Hon. Gbemisola all from Eruku and Asiwaju Ayo Samuel and Engr. Molagun representing Koro.

The meeting which held yesterday, Monday, July 5th, 2021, thus taking decisions on the consensus arrangement without carrying along other stakeholders and heavyweight politicians from the LG in Gov. Abdulrazaq camp.

The same thing goes for Ifelodun where Hon. Razaq Owolabi, Hon. AGF Abdulrazaq and Hon. Femi Yusuf have been said to have been carrying on with the consensus arrangement without recourse to Sen. Makanjuola Ajadi, the immediate past Commissioner from the local government, Hon. Herriet Afolabi Oshatimehin.

The neglect according to sources has created disquiet and disenchanted in the camp in the local government.

Further checks by Fresh Insight in Offa local government has pitched the Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Femi Whyte Agbaje against Sen. Lola Ashiru both in Gov. Abdulrazaq.