Date: 2018-05-16

Kwara APC faction backs reconciliation talk, gives condition A faction of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Kwara state led by Honourable Olayemi Olabanji has said it supports any move taken to unite the warring camps within the party. It however said it will outrightly reject any empty assurance that only satisfies parochial interests.

In a statement signed and issued by it's Publicity Secretary, Kayode Oyin-Zubair, the Olabanji-led group expressed hope that the meeting convened at the instance of the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed to meet stakeholders in the party will be fruitful, if the motive remains to strengthen party cohesion, entrench democratic norms and reinvent loyalty to the party.

"It is an open secret that the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is factionalised and the struggle to control the centre has been between two sides within the party.

"We saw it coming long before now and we warned of the impending danger. Some scorned, many ignored and the leadership was grandstanding," the statement said. The faction however said it will not allow anyone to arm twist the legacy bloc in the party to committing itself to oneness with just empty promises that fails to address what led to the division.

"We refuse to believe the school of thought that said such moves are underway to arm twist members of the legacy bloc in the party to abandon their leaders through phoney declaration for the other side and probably the government."

Party delegates at the APC factional Congress for Ilorin West Local Government at Pacific Hotels, Airport road on Saturday. While noting that the factionalisation could have been avoided, the group expressed it's readiness for peaceful moves, in order to focus on fulfilling its electoral promises and preparing for the forthcoming elections.

"We are concerned that every level of government under the control of our party will deliver to the admiration of Nigerians.

"We believe more will be done to bring peace in the state and deliver more on our electoral promises as we draw close to another round of elections," the statement said. It further warned that, "Any move planned or taken that is aimed at promoting any parochial interest can only put wedge between the cracks which benefits no one." This comes after the APC factions in Kwara state again held parallel Congresses across local government areas last Saturday just as it happened in some other states to include Enugu, Kogi, Ondo, Zamfara, Bayelsa and Abia.

PARTY LOYALTY Meanwhile the APC faction in Kwara led by Honorable Olayemi Olabanji has declared loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari and said the group has come to stay.

Secretary of the APC faction, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Saka who addressed newsmen said the political group has come to stay and was forced to severe ties with the Balogun Fulani led group because of its incessant discriminatory behavior.

He also insisted that unlike the stand of the defunct new PDP led by Alhaji Kawu Baraje, the group is in support of the Buhari administration and his plan to seek re-election in 2019.

Saka who described the legacy parties as the truly deprived camp in Kwara APC, said their party is growing in bounds and will continue to work in the interest of the people.

However, the Alhaji Balogun Fulani-led APC has stated that Kwara APC remains united and formidable under the political guidance of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.