'Reconcile with aggrieved party members - Tinubu to APC NEC "Reconciliation order, workable"-Ogungbangbe

By ISAAC OLUSESI

A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Osun State, Dr Thomas Olaleye Ogungbangbe has declared that addressing grievances within a political party is crucial to maintaining the party unity, public trust and electoral success. 

He stated that internal leadership tussles and power struggles can impact electoral campaign with the affected party, focusing more on internal conflicts than developing campaign strategies to enhance electoral engagement, increase voter turnout and win elections. 

The party stalwart from Osun East Senatorial District of the state made the truth declaration on Friday, ostensibly reacting to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's directive to the nation's governing APC National Executive Committee (NEC) season in Abuja, to reconcile with the aggrieved members of the party across levels, describing Mr President as constructive and magnanimous, one huge leader who prioritizes rebuilding and cooperation, and works towards the greater good of the party.

Ogungbangbe regretted that voters can get confused in the face of the intransigence and instability of a political party with implications, as any other political parties can capitalize on the party's internal wranglings and gain electoral advantage. 

And he charged that the presidential reconciliation order to the party is workable, enjoining those factions and individuals involved in the alleged wrongdoings to own up and put up commitment and willingness to change and lay the groundwork for reconciliation at all levels of the party, as ordered by the president who's also the apex leader of the party, to have past hurtful actions against the party addressed and restored the party's health and electoral prosperity.

"It must be said that leadership tussles within our APC as a political party, have led to different individuals hold different views on key issues, and caused dysfunctional competition and corrosive conflict for the control, influence and polarization, detrimental to the party, and in certain instances, made it difficult for the party to attract voters and win elections," Prince Ogungbangbe recounted.

He lauded the APC's resolve to expand NEC and raise the horizon of reasoning and decision making; extolled Dr Abdulliah Ganduje, National Chairman of the party for his groundbreaking efforts at resolving lingering disputes and boosting grassroots participation in the party, a move away from conventional approach; and eulogized the leadership of the party in Osun with former governor Gboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine & Blue Economy in the driver seat, for holding the party together.

The scion of the Ajagbusi Ekun Royal Dynasty of Iloko Ijesa in Oriade local government council area of the state added that he joined the nation's president to have the legitimacy of systemic issues of the party established and addressed to warrant sincere and sufficient apologies on the acknowledgement of wrongdoings, and mistakes learned to help drive the party.

 *OLUSESI writes via* isaacolusesi@gmail.com