IF the report at our disposal is anything to go by, the dust within the ruling All Progressives Congress both at the national and the state level, particularly in Kwara State may have risen as aides of the National Leader of the party, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu fails to release the pictures of Gov. AbdulRazaq on two visits to him in London. THE ELITES WATCH gathered.
This refusal might not be unconnected with the longstanding crisis between the four tendencies that formed the party in Kwara State. an informed person who declined to be named told this medium.
It was gathered that Gov. AbdulRazaq through numerous calls and chats reached out to the aides of the All Progressives Congress National Leader for his pictures but they insisted that it wasn’t their affairs to release pictures of his visits.
The four tendencies include the group headed by the embattled State Caretaker Chairman, Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, who is said to be loyal to the Honorable Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the defunct Akogun-led group, Gbemi Saraki bloc, and the Fagbemi group which is believed to be controlled by Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. All within the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State.
However, three out of the four tendencies enjoy the headship of Bolarinwa and are now under a ‘single force’ against the governor’s group.
Recall the crisis that has beguiled the party in the state was populated by serial attempts to remove the State Caretaker Chairman who is a disciple of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Bolarinwa was purportedly removed on the allegation that he is not loyal to the governor and may eventually work against the re-election bid of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. This much led the governor to recognize the party’s deputy state caretaker chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari as the Caretaker Chairman pending the time of the next congress. The event led to the grand opening of a factional party secretariat situated at No 28, Reservation Road, GRA, Ilorin.
To further show his displeasure, Hon. Bolarinwa recently approached the Abuja High Court to challenge his purported removal as the State Caretaker Chairman and also seek some legal interpretation through his numerous pages of affidavits citing sections of the party constitution.
It was revealed that the governor a few days ago left the country for some assignments, Part of which is a dinner and fireside session hosted by ENACT in conjunction with Kwara Development Group, USA chapter, in the United States last weekend. In-between, he visited Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in London on the 29th of September, 2021, which is presumed to be a solidarity visit like other prominent politicians, ahead of his arrival to Nigeria. He was said to have visited Tinubu in London on an earlier date before his last visit.
The refusal of Tinubu’s aides to send pictures of his several visits to him was said to have gotten the governor furious.
It was further gathered that Gov. AbdulRazaq is one of the APC governors fingered to be working in cross-purposes to the rumoured presidential ambition of Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose ambition has generated heated debate among Nigerians.
“Yes, I can reliably confirm to you that Gov. AbdulRazaq visited Oga who doubles as the National Leader of our great party (APC) last week. As you may be aware, Asiwaju underwent surgery in London which was successful as he’s now recuperating very fast.
“Like Mr. President, some progressive governors and notable leaders of our party across the country have embarked on a solidarity visit to Our National Leader’s London home. So our governor also visited him. Although some have termed the numerous visit to Asiwaju’s home in London as a political pilgrimage. But I must say it is normal to term it that way because, in Nigeria of today, Asiwaju is always a force to reckon with.
“It’s not a hidden thing that Gov. AbdulRazaq was there to visit him (Asiwaju). The governor had earlier visited making it the second time of his visit to him in London.”
Asking about the refusal of Tinubu’s aides to share pictures of the governor’s visitations to the governor, The source furthered,
“Well, I don’t think I should know the reason why his picture was not circulated like we’ve all seen for other governors but what I know is that Gov. AbdulRazaq has never been a part of the Jagaban’s political family. I’ve been a member of the family for years, I’ve equally paid my dues which is the unalloyed loyalty towards the family. I can tell you I’ve unfettered access to the family and I know how things are being done.
“If his picture has not surfaced since last week coupled with his earlier visit to Our Oga both in London, I can tell you it may not surfaces again no matter the pressure. If he wants to enjoy free publicity from our Oga’s aides, he must have paid his dues, which is ‘loyalty to that house’. You can’t be fighting Asiwaju’s men spuriously without witnessing its results. It’s what you give, you get in return. Gov. AbdulRazaq is being paid in his coin.”
Pressing further, “Gov. AbdulRazaq is not part of us. He’s known for eye service. He once enjoyed our leader’s benevolence which was displayed towards his emergence as the flag bearer of our party during the 2019 elections in the state. Our Leader is known for building leaders and not decrepitating them.
“I don’t think Gov. AbdulRazaq is committed to Peace. You can see how our party is decrepitating under his watch. He’s wantonly deepening the crisis in the party by conniving with some power brokers at the National level working against Asiwaju’s presidential bid.
“If he continues this way, he would be remembered for biting the fingers that fed him, ”the source who pleaded anonymity told THE ELITES WATCH correspondent.
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will hold its State congresses across the 36 States of the country on the 16th of October, 2021.
Analysts, have however, predicted that the party in the state is standing on a time bomb as members of the aggrieved faction are not backing down on their plan to take back power from the current leadership whose lifeline is plugged to some support from the party’s national secretariat.
Ahead of the Party’s National convention, Whether the three tendencies that are presumably the majority of the All Progressives Congress in Kwara or the governor’s bloc who are currently holding sway of the party affairs, will be in control of the party, the next few days will be the determiner of their fates as both blocs are not resting on their oars to fight to the end.