The Oyo state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has rejected the ministerial nominee from Oyo state, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, by President Muhammadu Buhari saying “he is not known to be a team player.”
In a rejection letter written to the President through the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, complained that the ministerial nominee had “he exhibited a cantankerous and an uncooperative attitude in his relationship with the party and its leadership.”
The Oyo APC added that Barrister Shittu engages in anti-party activities and has sued the APC 3 times. The party also said Mr Shittu refused to participate in party activities including election campaigns.
“He is not known to be a team player. Despite the fact that he and his cohorts were fully accommodated in the APC, he exhibited a cantankerous and an uncooperative attitude in his relationship with the party and its leadership, which was uncalled for. We can recall that our amiable Governor appointed his one time female running mate as a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) Political Matters till May 28, 2015. Also, the State Chairman of CPC as well as the State Secretary of ANPP was equally given commissionership slot in Oyo State. This is a further demonstration of the fact that the state APC does not believe in a winner-takes-all or zero sum kind of politics.
“It is curious to note that Barrister Shittu refused bluntly to participate in all party activities including campaigns except on one occasion of the Presidential Rally in Ibadan. Till date he has refused to participate in party activities or feature in any government programmes at all levels.
“To say that Barrister Shittu likes engaging in anti-party activities is a gross under-statement. We can recall that he had taken the party (APC) to court on three occasions in respect of party congresses and primaries despite all entreaties and reconciliatory efforts. He vowed to work against the party which he actually did. Despite the fact that all the legacy parties worked together. He is a destabilizing and factionalizing factor in the party.
“We like to place it on record that during the 2015 presidential election, Barrister Shittu was a lone ranger and that our party did not feel his impact for once, while we have it on good authority that he worked for the opposition during the last governorship election in Oyo State. This may be the reason why opposition elements were jubilating when the news of his nomination filtered into the public; celebrating him for his brazen anti-party activities,” APC said in the letter made available to our reporter.
The party therefore urged President Buhari to reconsider Barrister Shittu’s nomination in the interest of the party and its likely implication for future elections “so that the good people of Oyo State are not made to believe that the party is compensating a quisling while you are an apostle of party supremacy.”
In a related development, some APC chieftains whose names are reportedly on the ministerial list are said to have started lobbying senators so they can successfully scale the screening process billed for Wednesday, October 7. Some others are said to have gone spiritual embarking on intensive prayer sessions to come out unscathed after the exercise.
