As against the unconfirmed reports of attacks on the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC in Ibadan on Tuesday, the chairman of the state chapter of the party, Hon. Isaac Omodewu, has described the official visit of the immediate former governor of Kano State as successful and memorable adding that “fifth columnists spreading the unfounded rumour of any attacks or harassment during the visit should bury their head in shame”.
Ganduje, who emerged as the national chairman of the APC recently following the resignation of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, was in Ibadan yesterday where he paid homage to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Sen.) Olalekan Balogun in his private residence and he visited the Ibadan home of the Ondo state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who just returned to Nigeria from a medical trip abroad.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its publicity secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC expressed gratitude to both Ganduje and the new national secretary of the party, Sen. Ajibola Bashiru, for making Oyo one of the first states to be visited upon their assumption of office.
“There is no gainsaying the fact Oyo state occupied a vantage space in the politics and governance of Nigeria as emphasized by our national chairman in his speech at the Olubadan Palace yesterday. Also, leaders and members, who trooped out to receive the Abuja delegation, at our State secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan were assured that rewards for their toil before, during and after the last general election were on the way.
“The kind of warm reception accorded the former governor of Kano state and his team indicated that the state chapter has confidence in the new leadership of the party at the centre. It was dancing and cheering galore as it showed on the faces of all the people on the entourage of the national chairman that they were in love with Oyo APC. And to cap it all, Dr. Ganduje described the gift of talking drum presented to him as the best he got in recent times.
“At the point boarding the plane back to Abuja, the national chairman revealed his pleasant surprise at the kind of wonderful arrangement put in place and successfully executed by Oyo APC while playing host to his team in spite of the short notice. When one considers all this, insinuations and rumour of harassment or attacks on the national chairman would make no meaning as it has been traced to the camp of fifth columnists and nitwits whose only wish is to see Oyo APC in crisis.
“At this juncture, we feel obliged to appreciate our leaders such as Chief Moses Adeyemo, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, Sen. Kola Balogun, Chief Akin Oke, Barr. Adebayo Shittu among other eminent chieftains and members, including some of our people who had defected to Accord Party but now coming back home, for trooping to welcome our national chairman and his visiting team at Oke-Ado yesterday as it is now evident that Oyo APC is heading to the promise land.” The statement concluded.
