Crisis hits Ekiti APC over VP Osinbajo’s visit, Ojudu accused of shutting out major leaders, embezzling $100,000 VP largesse

Major stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State are accusing the Presidential Adviser on Political Matters and former Senator representing Ekiti Central, Babafemi Ojudu of shutting them out of the meeting held with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Ojudu’s Ado-Ekiti residence on Friday, October 21, 2016.

Senator Ojudu is also being accused of “sitting” a sum of $100,000 allegedly dropped for sharing by those who attended the meeting.

Osinbajo was in Ado-Ekiti to attend the convocation ceremony of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) convocation from where he moved to Senator Ojudu’s house to hold a meeting with some APC leaders.

The meeting was however shunned by all members of the State Party Exco, Minister of Solid Minerals and former governor Kayode Fayemi, as well as immediate past National Assembly members.

Those who attended the meeting were former governor Pa Bámidélé Olumilua, Hon Olaosebikan Kayode, Hon Karounwi Oladapo, Dr Adebayo Orire, Hon Akin Omole, Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae, Mrs  Motunde Abiodun Fajuyi, Chief Ranti Adebisi, Prince Akin Olayisade, Dr Ganiu Owolabi, Hon Funminiyi Afuye, Col Tunde Oluwayose, Mr Sesan Adewumi, Mrs Ronke Okusanya and Mr Longe Tope Ademola.

After the meeting, Vice President allegedly “dropped” a sum of $100,000 to Senator Ojudu with the instruction that the money should be shared among our party members, who attended the meeting.

Apart from the $100,000 largesse that is causing ripples, many of the party leaders are also complaining that they were not invited to the meeting.

“I personally spoke with Hon Robinson Ajiboye, Hon Bamidele Faparusi , Hon Dr Ifeoluwa Arowosoge, Hon Oyetunde Ojo and my humble self  and not one of us was deemed worthy or have any value to add at such a parley. It is interesting indeed to know that Hon Michael Opeyemi Bamidele caught the attention of my Egbon and all others did not either directly or by proxy even when we all still have a contacts well known,” Hon Bimbo Daramola wrote, while reacting to Ojudu’s explanation on his Facebook Timeline as to why many of the leaders were not invited.

Apparently aware of complaints from major stakeholders in the party, Ojudu had had tried to offer explanations on his Facebook Timeline.

Titled; “The Vice President’s Visit And Matters Arising – Ojudu,” he said; “I have waited for everyone who have things to say regarding the above subject matter to say whatever they will like to before responding. Even those who chose to abuse me and purveyed falsehood without seeking information, I can understand and I forgive. It is normal in a political environment especially one such as ours .

“For the purpose of history let me however state clearly that I made spirited efforts to reach everyone who needed to be informed or invited to the Vice President’s parley with our party stake holders. I took every step possible to do what is politically correct and expedient in the

circumstance.

“When on Wednesday 19th of October the VP called to inform me he has accepted the invitation to be at the Afe Babalola University Convocation I was excited. I was even more excited knowing it will be a good opportunity at that for the VP to meet with APC stakeholders inspite of the short time available. I immediately went to see him to draw up a plan.

“I suggested we request of Chief Afe Babalola a hall in the University where we could hold the meeting. The VP said no, he would rather we have it in my house. This he repeated to Dr Kayode Fayemi at the airport in Abuja on Friday 21st of October. Having the meeting in my house was not my choice.

“It was his. Countless of such held in my house between year 2006 and 2010 when we took up the mantle of leadership in the state. It was the place where we planned and plotted, where we wept when we were robbed and where we celebrated when we were victorious.

“We wanted the meeting to be representative of the different shades of opinion and caucuses in our party. I immediately put a call through to Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Engr Segun Oni, and Hon Opeyemi Bamidele. I couldn’t get through to Dr Fayemi but I left a word for him through his PA Mr (Egghead) Seun Odewale. Otunba Adebayo informed me he was out of the country and I should express his apology to the VP. Same goes for Hon Opeyemi Bamidele and Engr Oni who both said they had prior engagements and I should convey their apologies to the VP with a promise to ensure that genuine leaders are mobilized for the parley.

“Before I could get across to the party Exco, Engr  Segun Oni called the Deputy Chairperson of the party to inform her of the visit. By the time I called her  and Hon Olatunbosun, they both told me they have been informed and commenced drawing up a list that would be representative. I was excited about this and however taxed myself with the responsibility of putting calls through to some leaders by myself. At this point, the idea of inviting people to the meeting became shared responsibility. I called Chief Akosile, our former Chairman, Chief Oyebanjo, Papa Olumilua , Elder Yemi Alade, the Acting Leader of Afenifere and a number of other elders of the party.

“On Thursday 20th of October I called the Deputy Chairperson of the party to send me the list drawn up by the party so that I can make it available to the VP. She directed me  to Hon Olatunbosun who promptly emailed the list to me . I shared the list with the Protocol officials of the VP. They approved of it and I called Hon Olatunbosun to invite everyone on the list.

To be doubly sure I made other arrangements to call those on the list as well.

“On the day of the visit Dr Fayemi joined us at the airport to travel down to Ado Ekiti but excused himself to be at a book launch which he was earlier committed to. It is not impossible that some important names, even people very close to me, may have been innocently omitted. This should not be seen as deliberate but perhaps due to the short time frame available for the planning and execution of the parley.

“We had a beautiful parley. The VP was impressed and those present were appreciative of his humility and down to earth attitude . He had a good understanding of the problems facing our party in Ekiti State and he advised on the need for us to come together and rescue the state from the clutches of the maximum ruler who has given us all a bad image and reputation as Ekiti people. This is the truth and nothing but the whole truth. I wish our party, the APC greater wisdom and the spirit of tolerance to be able to march through the storm so that our party will become victorious in Ekiti again.

“Thank you all.”

Reacting, Bimbo Daramola said, “I  acknowledge the concerns of Broda Femi (Senator Babafemi Ojudu) as a front line leader in our party and definitely concerned similarly all our

leaders who made time out to attend this parley  and those contacted as effusively mentioned in Bro Femi s reply. My objection however is in the fact  that the people specifically mentioned in the Senator ‘s response are our leaders, respected and respectable but we the followers should at least should count for a token at least by reason of the followership roles we had the privilege of playing or positions we have occupied!

“For instance Ekiti State had 9 of us at the National Assembly from 2011-2015 and Senator Ojudu being one of the nine.

“So it would be safe to expect that the remaining 8 others would be deemed to have some value to have been elected just like the Senator was and so naturally should belong in the natural habitat of the Senator and so worthy of being considered fit for this meeting or beautiful parley. But I am wrong. Expecting too much I suppose.

“I personally spoke with Hon Robinson Ajiboye, Hon Bamidele Faparusi , Hon Dr Ifeoluwa Arowosoge, Hon Oyetunde Ojo and my humble self  and not one of us was deemed worthy or have any value to add at such a parley.

“It is interesting indeed to know that Hon Michael Opeyemi Bamidele caught the attention of my Egbon and all others did not either directly or by proxy even when we all still have a contacts well known.

“Now if those of us who ordinarily should be the first natural habitat of the Senator did not have such a recognition what then will be the fate of the State assembly members and others who also should be so deemed to also be at such a beautiful  parley.

“I wouldn’t have had any inclination to say a word but the response and seeming explanation of Bro Femi triggered the need to comment just maybe in future if such beautiful  parley needs to be made more beautiful  (my thought I could be wrong) is being contemplated,  it will save the need to express any apology for not inviting some people who he said are close to him but still were not “lucky to a beautiful  parley with our esteemed  Vice President.

“That way an apology may not be necessary if this had been taken into consideration.

“Well maybe our names got vetted out at some point  between the organisers and the Vice President or his protocol.”