Kwara APC crisis gets messier, Bolarinwa, issued 7-day ultimatum to resign
…16 LGs party chair back BOB against Gov
By Mumini AbdulKareem
The leadership crisis rocking the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) heightened over the week with a call to the embattled Chairman, Bashiru Omolaja Bolarinwa to resign from office.
Bolarinwa and Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq reportedly had showdown on two occasions in Ilorin and Abuja this month over alleged refusal of the latter to grant a N10million request for the party chairman and other executives to attend a North Central convention of the APC, in Abuja, recently.
Bolarinwa’s outburst with the Governor was said to be climax of the frosty relationship between Abdulrazaq and some party executives over the Governor’s style of leadership since he was inaugurated on May 29, 2019 as the Executive Governor of the state.
The issue, it was gathered, had been a major concern for top chieftains of the party who have reportedly been worried over the trend few days to the anniversary of the party’s 100 days in office.
The development is however coming on the heels of declaration of support for the embattled Chairman by party chairmen across the 16 local governments of the state, over the issue.
Kwara Youth Congress (KYC), an umbrella body of youth associations within the party across the state issued the ultimatum after an emergency meeting on Monday.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the meeting, the Spokesperson of KYC, Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, who read the resolutions of the group, accused Bolarinwa of greediness, insubordination, arrogance and disloyalty to the Governor. adding that he is no longer worthy of the office.
Ibrahim, who is also the Coordinator of Ilorin Emirate Youths Assembly, noted that, “We have carefully watched the trend of political happenings in the state in the last few days and we hereby lend our voice to corroborate the position of other stakeholders in the state who have earlier called for the party chairman’s removal.
“Hon. Bolarinwa’s greed, disloyal attitude to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq doesn’t portray that of a true party helmsman who is expected to foster prudence, peace, unity and prosperity among members. He has demonstrated high level of greed, indiscipline, arrogance and insubordination against the highest ruling class in the state.
“We are urging him to retrace his step, apologise unreservedly immediately to our Governor and pledge his loyalty to him so that the Governor can continue to achieve his aim of repositioning the state without any unnecessary distraction from within.
“It won’t be out of place to state that there is urgent need for the review of the current political arrangement in the state vis a vis across party structure.
“Presently, The Governor is from Kwara Central and the Minister of State for Transport, Deputy Governor and Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism are from Kwara South, while only the Speaker of the Kwara State House Assembly is from Kwara North.
“We hereby urged the APC national leadership to urgently oust Bolarinwa and allow an experienced party man from Kwara North to replace him. Failure to heed to our demand will lead to total takeover and shutdown of the APC secretariat by our members.”
The group therefore pledged its unalloyed loyalty and support to the peaceful co-existence of Kwarans especially youths towards national consciousness and democratic advancement.
…16 LGs party chair back BOB against Gov
By Mumini AbdulKareem
Support by the APC chairmen for the state party chairman, Bashiru Omolaja Bolarinwa was a subject of high wire political maneuverings last night as two conflicting statements were reportedly issued over the matter.
In one of the statements reportedly signed by the Kwara Local Government’s APC chairmen pass vote of confidence on the state party chairman, the other one was signed only by Hon Suleiman Tejidini, the PRO of the group and it did not indicate whether he was endorsing the statement on behalf of the group or not.
In the first statement, 16 APC chairmen, declared resolute support for the state party chairman, Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa lambasting the President of Orisun Igbomina, Chief Gbenga Awoyale, accusing him of crying wolf where none exists.
According to the statement which had been published in some online news medium, Bolarinwa was described as a democrat to the core and expressed unshakeable confidence in his leadership style, just as they argued that his actions are geared towards sustaining sanctity and fighting for the soul of the Party with a view to strengthening it.
While accusing Chief Awoyale and his cohorts of doing the bidding of their sponsors, the party officials threatened to invoke relevant provisions of the APC constitution to deal with recalcitrant members. The Kwara APC chairmen thereafter called on all party faithful to ignore the call, but rather remain steadfast and resolute.
However, in the contrasting release signed by their PRO, Suleiman Tejidini, the statement declared support for Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and his administration.
“We also wish to reaffirm that Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the Executive Governor of Kwara State is the APC Party Leader in the state and that we are ready to work with him to enable his administration deliver on the set objectives.
“We therefore distant ourselves from all statements that may be credited to individuals or group of people against Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, his administration and our party and thus urge all party loyalists to disregard such.
“On a last note, we are proud to inform the public that APC is one big and united family under the leadership of our Governor, irrespective of any internal issues which are bound to occur in a democratic setting and that notwithstanding, we are blessed with good mechanisms to resolve such matters when arise in the best interest of justice and democracy. We pray that Almighty Allah continue to guide our Government, the Governor and our Party on the right path”, the statement added.
…party reacts
In his reaction to the issue, the Kwara State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) vowed to continue to support and stand with Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in his drive to deliver to Kwarans the fruits of good governance.
According a statement signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Tajudeen Folaranmi Aro, last night, the endorsement of Governor by the chairmen of the 16 Local Government chapters of the APC in Kwara State was a milestone on the support for the Governor.
Quoting the statement of the APC chairmen PRO, Tejidini, Aro said “We also wish to affirm that Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, the Executive Governor of Kwara State is the APC Party Leader in the state and we are ready to work with him to enable his administration delivers on the set objectives
” We therefore distant ourselves from all statements that may be credited to individuals or group of people against Alhaji Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, his administration and our party and thus urge all party loyalists to disregard such.
” On a last note, we are proud to inform the public that APC is one big and united family under the leadership of our Governor, irrespective of any internal issues which are bound to occur in a democratic setting and that notwithstanding, we are blessed with good mechanisms to resolve such matters when arise in the best interest of justice and democracy. We pray that Almighty Allah continue to guide our Government, the Governor and our Party on the right path”.
Aro said the statement is coming on the heels of the misleading comments by one political miscreant who intends to stoke a fire of political crisis using Orisun Igbomina as a cannon folder.
Describing the President of Orisun Igbomina as miscreant who does not know the name of the APC state chairman, yet calls for his resignation”, Aro said he should not be honored with deserved attention.
“We urge the discerning public to disregard all recent happenings hatched by anti people element within and outside the party geared towards destabilizing the party.
“Party members should be wary of fifth columnists been sponsored by anti people’s element in the state.
“There are party procedures on different matters which are not ambiguous, and clearly spelt out in the party’s constitution. Any call for the resignation of the party chairman is not only reckless but senseless.
“The relationship between the party and the state government is cordial and the party will do everything possible to maintain this cordiality so that the good people of Kwara state can benefit maximally the dividends of democracy.
“So far, the party is happy with the various developmental efforts of the governor some of which will be showcased for his first 100days in office.
All factional tendencies are not only self serving but injurious to the collective interest of party members and the generality of Kwarans.
“We urge our elders in the party to ensure that a wrong foot is not put forward in the course of consolidating our political success. We should leverage on the experiences of the Governor as a successful businessman and that of the Party Chairman as a successful politician”, he added.
