AD faction rejects fresh national convention
From Iyabo Sotunde, Ibadan
THE South-West caucus of a faction of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) rose from their meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, yesterday rejecting the call for a fresh national convention by another faction of the party.
It also supported the endorsement of Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa by the Afenifere leadership.
At the meeting attended by the Akinfenwa faction of the AD which included the former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Kaka as well as state chairmen for Lagos, Oyo and Ogun states namely Chief Ayo Akinyemi, Dotun Oyelade and Duro Aikulola among others, the group insisted that the convention held at Abuja remains the only authentic and duly constituted convention of the party.
While expressing total support for the leadership of Akinfenwa as the national chairman of the party, the group noted that the conduct of a fresh convention could further polarise the party.
The caucus resolved to ignore in totality the call by some people for fresh national convention and expressed total support for the stand of Afenifere at the Akure meeting, which endorsed the chairmanship of Akinfenwa.
While justifying the legality of the Abuja convention, which produced Akinfenwa, the group noted that not fewer than 28 state chairmen as well as the State Congress Committee Chairmen attended the convention.
The meeting also resolved to work together with other progressives throughout the country in a bid to reposition the party and reclaim its lost glory in future elections.
While expressing their readiness to work with the former Governor Bisi Akande-led faction of the AD, the group disclosed that the leadership of Afenifere has set up a committee to determine how the elective party offices will be harmonised so that there will be no victor, no vanquished.
Former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina faulted the decision of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, to recognise Akinfenwa as the national chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), describing the action as a very serious fundamental mistake.
Besides, Adesina, in an interview, frowned against the venue of the meeting where the decision was reached.
According to the former governor, it was wrong for the meeting to be held at Akure when the Afenifere leader, Pa Abraham Adesanya, is still alive.
Said he: "I think Afenifere made a very serious fundamental mistake this time around, they should not have dabbled into the feud between Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa and Chief Bisi Akande, it was late, I mean honestly. It is like they are now causing further confusion. I do not think Afenifere should have done that".
He pointed out that when they met at their last meeting in Ijebu-Igbo, the country home of Pa Adesanya, a warning was sounded by some leaders of the group that they should hands off from mediating in the AD crisis having made several attempts that were rebuffed by the two contending parties.`
