Kwara APC Crisis: Buhari’s meeting with guber aspirants ploy to cover impunity – Moshood Mustapha
By Mumini AbdulKareem
The meeting with the gubernatorial aspirants of the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with President Muhammadu Buhari last week in Abuja appeared not to have calmed frayed nerves as one of the aspirants have openly condemned the event even as others have insisted on their emergence.
For former legislative aide to the Senate President, Hon Moshood Mustapha, the only true reconciliation of aggrieved aspirants, stakeholders and members within the party would help it win elective posts come 2019 adding that the meeting was a ploy to cover the impunity perpetrated by some leaders.
In his first official comment since the highly reported meeting with President Buhari, Mustapha described it as another plot to cover-up impunity and injustice happening in Kwara APC.
He said it (the meeting) was staged by the same elements that perpetrated the evil act during the primary election to cover their mess and called on the national leadership to reconcile aggrieved members “if we want to win 2019 general elections.”
He disclosed this at the weekend while addressing his supporters at his campaign secretariat located along Fate Road, Ilorin.
He thanked his supporters who attended the meeting for their support, loyalty and prayers despite the fallout of Kwara APC governorship primary election, adding that the massive turnout shows the formidable structure he built remained intact and strong.
While narrating the event that led to his illegal disqualification on the day of primary election (October 6, 2018), the former lawmaker said some elements within the party orchestrated it, to make their preferred candidate emerge as APC flagbearer.
According to him: “We uncovered moves by some selfish elements within the party hierarchy to ensure emergence of a particular aspirant. This information prompted us to double our efforts in build up to the primaries and we visited all the local governments in the state to solicit for APC members’ support”.
“The reception we received throughout the tour was impressive and encouraging as I sold my candidacy to party members. One day to the primaries we secured endorsement of Kwara North during a meeting organized at Senator Ahmed Muhammed’s residence in presence of stakeholders from five local government areas in the state”.
“I guess my detractors within the party decided to issue the illegal disqualification statement on Harmony FM to stop my impending victory at the primary election. It’s really sad and disheartening but we now know what to do in future. Nobody lose in a race like this, you only gathered more experience that will be useful for your next level”, he added
He told his group that APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has disowned the disqualification letter and pledge to issue him public apology.
“Imagine; our national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has disowned my letter of disqualification and promised to issue public apology that will be circulated in different media houses across the country. He also directed new National Publicity Secretary to brief the press about the development”
The former Kwara Commissioner for Land and Housing, however, assured his teeming supporters across the 16 local governments in the state that he will protect their interest within the party and ensure that they are properly updated on latest development.
Mustapha reiterated that he would not work against APC’s interest as the next general election draws nearer
