After Supreme Court Judgement, Osun APC Members Set To Tackle Oyetola Over Appointment Of Chief of Staff

Dr. Charles Akinola, incumbent Chief of Staf to Osun State Governor

P,M. EXPRESS can report that all is not well within the camp of All Progressive Congress (APC) Osun State chapter days after the Nigeria’s Supreme Court settled the month-long post gubernatorial election petition in favour of Governor Gboyega Oyetola on Friday.

It was gathered that the disquiet within Osun APC had been on even when the case between the Governor and candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke was on, but it was learnt that many of the aggrieved party loyalists were of the opinion that they should take things cool for the Governor and the party to be focused to attain victory, and when they finally got the victory at the Supreme Court on Friday, many of them who confided in P.M. EXPRESS believed that the time is now ripe for them to let the Governor and Nigerians know the injustice and marginalisation they had been suffering since Governor Oyetola assumed office last November.

One of the alleged grievances and which happened to be the main grouse they have against the Governor was the appointments he made in the first quarter of 2019.

“The Elders and stakeholders in APC in Osun State have decided to ask Governor Oyetola to reverse the appointment of Dr, Charles Akinola, the present Chief of Staff,” said one of the aggrieved elders from Osun Central Senatorial District, who preferred anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the sensitive issue for now. He told P.M. EXPRESS during the road show when the Governor went round the city of Osogbo to celebrate with party faithful and the citizens on his victory at the Supreme Friday afternoon.

“We thank God that what we are looking for at the Supreme Court came our way at last. This is a victory for the Governor, the former Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the father of the nation, President Muhammadu Buhari and indeed the good people of Osun State.

“Now that the issue of election case has been put to rest, the Governor will have time to face governance proper, but he must do few things to correct the imbalance in some appointment he made early this year.

“We cannot accept the appointment of the Chief of Staff. We were quiet all this while because we did not want to heat the polity as the party and the Governor were in tribunal. Appointing someone like Charles Akinola as the Chief of Staff was a slap on the faces of the leaders and indeed party members who sacrificed and work for the success of the party. Where was him in the last election, Wehere was him when the road was rough? He was brought from Lagos to Osun by Ogbeni  Rauf Aregbesola, the former governor. The claim that he is from Ijesha is not enough for him to be given such as important post in the government. We won’t mind working against what almost cost us during the last governorship election. I believe the Governor won’t take our grievance against this man lightly, but if he does, I think we shall get to the river before we cross it.”

Another APC member also confided in P.M. EXPRESS as people were celebrating the victory on the streets of Osogbo on Friday with the Governor that “we won’t mind mobilising members of our party to press home our demands. How can we have a Chief of Staff who would prevent leaders of the party to present meaningful contribution to the governor? He is not accommodating. He is no accessible and he is not people’s friendly. He decides what file the governor will see or not to see. My brother, the most painful aspect of it is that if the Governor has taken action on issue and directs you to see him; he would be a stumbling block. I think for us to consolidate on this victory which most of us laboured for, Dr Charles Akinola has to go. A position like that of the Chief of Staff must be given to somebody that will make us proud. We suffered a lot to get to where we are today and when actual governance is about starting round peg must be in round hole. We will mount the pressure on the Governor from now on,” the elder said.

Efforts to speak with the Chief of Staff and APC secretary in Osun state to comments on the complaints proved abortive as they could not be reached as at the time of filling this report.