2019: Tinubu, Fashola, other S’West APC leaders meet, agree to unite

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, APC leaders from the south west part of the country met on Thursday in what is arguable the largest public gathering of such in recent times.

The All Progressives Congress leaders who have been reportedly forming new alliances to solidify their individual positions in the region, agreed on one thing during the meeting that held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital; the need to unite.

The South West APC appear to have begun jettisoning interests that separate them in order to pursue their political aspirations as a united group. The leaders who deliberated for about five hours, resolved afterward that it was important the region unites.

A former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who let out the sole purpose of the meeting when he spoke to newsmen on the mandate of the other leaders, disclosed that the meeting was held for the leaders to look at myriad of issues affecting the political situation in the South-West and how to proffer a lasting solution to them.

“We met principally to discuss issues affecting the South-West and we have come out with a resolution to show that in the South-West of the APC, there is unity of purpose. We are together on all issues concerning the governance of this country. We have also discussed on what should be the role and influence to exercise as a group for the interest and progress of the country.

“We have examined the government and have reviewed all issues. All those to be taken to Abuja will be done by those concerned. We have related with our representatives at the National Assembly, party leaders and governors,” Osoba had said after the meeting.

The meeting which was hosted by Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, had in attendance Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun).

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Heavyweight leaders of the region also at the meeting included, national leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu; a former interim chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande; Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu; and Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

Others were the party’s National Deputy Chairman (South-West), Chief Segun Oni; Senate Chief Whip Sola Adeyeye, Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and a former Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

The meeting is coming at a time feelers in the political scene suggest that the APC members in the region are factionalised, with some loyal to Tinubu while others are considered as Abuja cabals, who are out to ensure Tinubu’s influence in the South West political scene is reduced to the barest minimum.

Recall that Governor Amosun in an audio tape allegedly slighted Tinubu and reportedly boasted during a meeting with Ogun State House of Assembly and National Assembly members how everything that will ensure he becomes the next Senate President has been arranged and that nobody can stop him.

He has, howeve, denied it.

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