By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo
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A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Bashir Lawal has expressed displeasure over the suspension and expulsion of some founding fathers of the party, who are loyalists of the immediate-past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the state.
Lawal in a letter dated September 2, 2023, a copy obtained by our correspondent seeks the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje and elders of the party to wade into the matter.
Recall that the Tajudeen Lawal led APC in Osun had on Wednesday last week expelled 26 members having earlier suspended 84 others for the same offence of Anti -Party activities
Lawal in a letter said the expulsion of 84 members from a party that once struggled in a gubernatorial election to get victory with 500 votes is outrageous.
Parts of the letter read: “I’m Engr. Bashir Lawal, a.k.a Gomina Mekunu, a member of our great All Progressives Congress, Isale Oba Ward 2, Iwo Local Government, Osun State.
“I’m writing this letter to call your attention to the decision of the party’s state executive committee expelling 84 members and suspension of 26 members of the party as recommended by the disciplinary committee.
“First and foremost, in democracy, majority have their ways while minority have their says. I concur with the decision though, dissatisfied. Without undermining the authority of the party, I wish to express this freedom on behalf of those who might share same opinion with me that the executive decision is power-wedged too much, untimely and counterproductive to the peace of and consolidation of the party in the state.
“Yoruba elders in politics believe that there is no get out but get in politics. This also calls for if the Executive Committee has legal right to expel people from the party.
” I am opportune to listen in the streets. We may not fail as political party if we listen to comments from voters that admire our party. It was believed a group fenced the in-house opposition during the regime of Gboyega Oyetola, the former State Governor, and were shortchanged with “dividend” of democracy but to be invited few months to the election which they claimed not to have benefitted from the commencement of its tenure.
“Essential ingredients of politics is managing crisis. Those expelled or suspended are well known members and pillars of the Party. Membership should not be undermined. If APC frowned at their misdemeanors, the Party was equally a beneficiary of same attitude. What we lost in them, we gained from Wike, Seyi Makinde and others. Therefore, it will not be too much for lovers of the party to overlook the past and forge ahead.
“ I humbly appeal that you the Elders of our party prevail on the State Executive Committee of the APC from executing the expulsion and suspension and call for reconciliation and consolidation of our great party.”
