Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the auspices of Ekiti APC Stakeholders have described as unacceptable the decisions of the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji to appoint more loyalists and followers of former governor and leader of the Peoples Democratic (Party), Ayodele Fayose, as political aides.
The members singled out various slots allegedly given to the political associates of the former Governor who are PDP members in the appointment of Special Advisers (SAs), Senior Special Assistants(SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs).
The group in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Wednesday and signed by its convener, Prince Aderobaki Adeleye lamented that in spite of their numerous sacrifices and contribution to the success of the party in the last governorship elections, appointments are being given to known figures in the opposition parties.
Adeleye revealed that core members of the APC who were instrumental to the party’s successes in recent elections were being left out of patronage which they feared may create division in the party.
They called on the National chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje to intervene on the issue, in the interest of the party’s survival in the state.
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The statement reads, ” The attention of the Concerned Ekiti APC Stakeholders has been drawn to the recent appointments by his Excellency, Biodun Oyebanji which has unduly favoured known opposition figures who did not contribute anything to the success of the APC, while loyal party members have been sidelined.
“ A thorough perusal of the lists of the appointments of SAs, SSAs and others showed that associates of the former Governor, Ayodele Fayose have been unduly favoured to the exclusion of APC members, as loyal party men we view this development as unfair, unjust and a direct affront to our collective sensibilities.
“We understand that besides these appointment slots, the former governor has been enjoying some undeserved benefits and patronages, while leaders of the APC who toil day and night to ensure victories of the party have been left in the cold.
“We therefore call on the national leadership of our party to rein in Governor Oyebanji to urgently correct these missteps in the overall interest and wellbeing of members of our party.
“While we concede to the fact that Fayose is a former governor of the state, the question is how many APC members were given appointments when he was at the helm of affairs in our state.”
In his reaction, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Segun Dipe, dismissed the claim of the stakeholders as unfounded and untrue.
He revealed that the governor has been involving the leadership of the party across all levels on the recent appointments, noting that it was out of respect that former governors were consulted by the governor.
He however advised the aggrieved members to channel their grievances to the appropriate organs of the party that will look dispassionately at their complaints, if any, before going to the media.