Just like ABIKU as described by late Nigerian Poet, JP Clark, the crisis rocking the Kwara State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has been ‘Coming and going these several seasons’ with Hon Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa at centre of the storm.
Kwara APC has turned to Fuji House of Commotion since the emergence of Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as party’s governorship candidate in the 2019 general elections. Some political watchers liken the experience in the ruling party to ‘One day, One crisis’ as stakeholders struggle for the sole of the party.
Hon Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa (BOB), a former local government chairman and federal lawmaker amidst all odds has continued to manage Kwara APC affairs from May 2018 with his political sagacity, wisdom, experience and tact. His doggedness, sincerity of purpose, resilience and determination to build solid structure for Kwara APC has earned him respect and love of party faithful.
It’s therefore not surprising that BOB survives many gang up and attempts to remove him as the State Party Chairman, especially from loyalists of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
For clarity, Hon Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa was duly elected as Kwara APC Chairman and his victory was ratified by the National Working Committee inline with party’s constitution. Also, Buni-led committee also inaugurated BOB as Caretaker Chairman on December 11, 2020 in compliance with APC National Executive Committee (NEC) directives.
Recall that APC NEC during December 8, 2020 meeting held at Council Chamber in the Presidential Villa, Abuja dissolved all state, local government and ward executives. The NEC attended by President Muhammadu Buhari with Bolarinwa and other state chairmen joining virtually also extended tenure of Buni-led National Caretaker Committee by six months.
According to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state who briefed journalists after the NEC meeting, the apex body of the ruling party orders immediate reconstitution and composition of the dissolved EXCOs to serve in their respective offices in a caretaker committee capacity
His words: “NEC approved the immediate dissolution of the party organs at the polling units, wards, local government, states and zonal levels as well as the non National Working Committee component of the National Executive Committee as well as their immediate reconstitution and composition of the dissolved EXCOs to serve in their respective offices in a caretaker committee capacity but excluding the non-NWC members of NEC”
Therefore, APC NEC empowered BOB to pilot the affairs of the party till conduct of fresh congress at ward, LG and state level.
It’s however disturbing that Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and his avalanche of political jobbers are wasting resources to remove BOB at by all means. Rather than focus on mobilizing more kwarans to join the All Progressives Congress ahead 2023 general elections by using membership registration/revalidation to make political statement, they are dissipating their energy in chasing shadow in Abuja.
The latest move by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and his political jobbers is the attempt to deceive Buni-led committee that BOB has been suspended. Hmmmm, may be they suspended BOB in their dream or still living in the illusion of failed-coup at Kwara Hotel.
We need to remind desperados that Governor on November 6, 2020 reaffirmed that Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa (BOB) remains the authentic Chairman of APC in Kwara State.
According to statement by Abdulrazaq’s CPS, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor therefore urged all aggrieved persons to embrace dialogue and key into various efforts by him to rally everyone behind his agenda for a better Kwara State.
Recall that three members of APC State Executive Committee attempt to suspend Bolarinwa during all inclusive stakeholders meeting held at Kwara Hotels on Thursday November 5, 2020.
For records, several attempts sponsored by the governor and his enablers to remove BOB as Kwara APC consistently failed. They also failed to secure 2/3 of the state executives signature despite spending millions of naira. The Kwara Hotel ambush led to embarrassment of the governor due to massive support of party stakeholders including the two ministers from Kwara State for BOB.
Apart from that, It’s will necessary to know when the disgruntled elements purported suspended Bolarinwa who sworn-in Caretaker executives for State, local governments and wards on December 14, 2020. They will also need to provide details of their Asaroeleporede sharing meeting as Kwara APC Caretaker Committee is yet to hold any meeting after their inauguration. The Chairman has constantly be in touch with National Secretariat of the party to get directive for nationwide membership revalidation/registration.
Interestingly, Kwarans, especially APC members already know the aggressors fanning ember of disunity and sowing seed of discord to achieve selfish agenda.
Kwara APC members are standing with Hon Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa and he will complete his lawful tenure inspite of actions/activities of minority troubles making machines backed by self acclaimed Chief Political Troublemaker of Kwara State.
