As the All Progressive Congress prepares for its nationwide Local Government congresses on Saturday, it is not the best of times for the governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as his supporters are clearly working at cross purposes.
The division, which has been created since the build-up to the ward congresses held last month, is getting more pronounced by the day as fireworks among his loyalists are fast becoming the order of the day.
While it was expected that the decision of the governor’s camp to adopt consensus candidates for the ward congresses would bring about peace, the reverse is now the case as the outcome of the consensus is widening the cracks in the camp and leading to what, analysts feared, might become another faction in the party.
Our correspondent reported that policemen and other security agents had a hectic time at the Kwara Government’s banquet hall on Friday as several splinter groups all loyal to the governor struggle to get their candidates sworn in and recognised officially at the ward level, ahead of the Local Government congresses.
The large turnout of supporters, who were singing and dancing carried placards with different inscriptions hailing or derailing one politician or the other, led to commotion among them, as some of them engaged in a free for all.
It was also gathered that officers of the State Security Service (SSS) acting on the authority of a certain lawmaker beat and molested the factional chairman-elect of the Magaji Ngeri ward, Murtala Ibrahim Kokorin at the inauguration venue.
The congress that produced Kokorin was also factional like others in the governor’s camp. The other produced Murtala Ibrahim Oforo backed by the House of Assembly leader Mogaji Olawoyin.
Narrating Kokorin’s ordeal, one of his scribes who spoke to this medium said, “They called him from the party’s national headquarters in Abuja to congratulate him as the duly elected chairman of the Magaji Ngeri ward. The caller also asked him to come to the state banquet hall by 10:00 am on Friday for his inauguration. His name is on the list in Abuja.
“Immediately after the call, the majority leader of the state Assembly also called him to confirm his name, and after he discovered he was the one, he dropped the call. Later on, he sent someone to him by the name Abdullahi Nakeeb requesting his passport. He told him they wanted to put his name down as the assistant local government ex-officio. But he outrightly rejected it.
“So he went to the venue as instructed from Abuja. But to our dismay, before we could know what was happening, some DSS officials, acting on the instruction of people from the other side started beating him and further dragged him out of the venue. They beat some of our people too.
“It was later we learnt that the people from the other side are being supported by a certain godmother in Abuja who is calling the shot.”
When contacted for comment, Kokorin who appealed for calm stated that he is not ready to back out on the mandate given to him by the people.
“I want to use this medium to call on all members to continue attending our weekly meetings. We will continue with our meetings. We have the number and not just relying on the power that be,” he said.
Also, for supporters of former senator Ajadi Makanjuola and Hon. AbdulRasaq Owolabi both of Ifepodun Local Government, it was a tug of war as they strive to outdo each other in the shouting, dancing and singing matches and the brawls that ensued afterward.
“Owolabi and AGF backed elected executives were sworn-in for most of the wards in the Local Government. Sen. Ajadi got some too. This will be the beginning of another war,” an informed source told this medium.
Aside from the entanglement inside the governor’s camp, the larger APC is also confronted with intra-party crises which threaten its survival and chances in future elections.
The governor’s fight with the Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed led to the sharp division of the party. One led by Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa and the other led by Abdullahi Sanmari. The breakaway faction also held its own parallel congresses across the state and had since released the names of their executives at the ward level.
