Political watchers in the state have described the development as reflective of the deep rooted internal wrangling among key stakeholders in the party.
According to Bolarinwa, “I salute him (governor), but I advised that we (as a party) promised to do things differently with the next level slogan. Governance is beyond roads and school and past governments (build) did same. (This) government must think outside the box especially with the COVID-19 and crude oil price crash at the international market which is a main stay of our economy”, he noted.
He said as the chairman of the party, he did his part to ensure the governor emerge with the assistance of God, adding that nobody including the governor is bigger than the party.
“He is the governor of the state and I am the chairman of the party. Nobody is bigger than party (including the governor) and those appointed must do what the party wants.
“If Buhari attends NEC meeting, (despite being the President), it is the national chairman that will preside. I am that one that is saddled with the responsibility of piloting the affairs of the party as at today in Kwara State
“The party is large and has many groups and at times like minds will identify themselves based on certain criteria to form political groups. When Baba Saraki was alive (may Allah be pleased with him), then we had many women forum that are well recognised as pillars within the party that held it together. Now there are very many groups within the APC and I am reaffirming it that the party is bigger than any political group. They must all operate under the APC and anybody that is trying to use the group to undermine the party will only find himself to blame”, he said.
On the leadership crisis rocking the party, Bolarinwa said “What I know is that party elders and genuine members are of the position that the party must not fail. There is no how that we can’t have that (crisis) considering that we have been on this struggle for years. I call on everybody involved in the struggle to join hands together to uplift the party. Anybody that has benefited from the government should not use that to destabilise that party”, he added.
He said with the new law that caretaker chairmen are no more allowed, the governor will make the necessary step towards conducting the council election (slated for November) when the time is ripe.
Bolarinwa thanked Kwarans for standing by the party and implored them to accept the present situation as normal within a political party, adding that things will be better in the Kwara State chapter of the APC.
