By Saidu Idris
365Daily – The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara has raised the alarm over rising attacks on its members.
This was contained in an 8-point communiqué issued on Wednesday, March 31, at the end of APC stakeholders’ meeting at the party secretariat in Ilorin.
The eight-point communiqué was jointly signed by Chief Theophilus Oyebiyi, Caretaker Vice Chairman, Kwara North, and Mr Oladimeji Mustapha, Caretaker Legal Adviser.
The stakeholders’ meeting, which condemned the escalating ”violence and thuggery” in the state, was presided over by the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mr Bashir Bolarinwa.
Party leaders and stakeholders from the 16 local government areas of the state were present at the meeting where varying issues affecting the party at both national and state levels were discussed.
The communique noted that “Violence had been unleashed on our party members at Moro, Edu and Banquet Hall, Ilorin. Curiously the perpetrators of violence are close to the seat of government.”
It also condemned the upsurge of ethnic and religious violence across the country and urged for restraint among the political class in order not to exacerbate the problem.
While calling on the government not to allow politically motivated violence to further heighten the insecurity in the state, the party called on all leaders of thought in the country to join hands with the APC-led Federal Government in nipping insecurity in the bud instead of fanning the embers or being plainly conniving.
The party members also passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of Bolarinwa as the state caretaker committee chairman of Kwara APC, while urging “all members to continue to be steadfast in their support for the All Progressives Congress” and ”party structure at all levels.”
The communiqué however commended the courage and leadership of the various leaders and stakeholders of the party.
The meeting particularly commended Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, who have lent their voices in demanding for a transparent and inclusive registration exercise in accordance with the guidelines of the party and urged the national leadership of the party led by Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe to listen to the voice of reason from their two leaders before the situation gets out of hand.
“We ask, if the APC National Caretaker Committee does not consider the voices of the overwhelming majority of party members strong enough, would they also wish away the strong voices of the two Ministers from the state in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari?,” it asked rhetorically.
The also communiqué called for calm and restraint from all members of the APC and supporters, in spite of the deliberate provocation by some elements in the party, expressing confidence that in due course, justice would prevail.
The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by APC chieftains such as Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, Mr Saidi Popoola, Mr Muyideen Ndamusa, Alhaji Isiaka Alao, Mr Umaru Shaba, Mr Abdulwahab Adesina and the state women leader.
The meeting was also attended by representatives drawn from the 16 local government areas of the state as well as youth leaders and women leaders from all the local government areas.