‘We’ve shifted our operations to WhatsApp’
In defiance of the directives of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, banning all caucuses within the party in Lagos State, the groups have continued to function unhindered, First News has learnt.
Tinubu, who is also a governor of Lagos State, had recently ordered the disbandment of the caucuses, stressing that the APC in Lagos should henceforth work as one united body.
This came shortly after the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, inaugurated an APC Chieftain, Abdullahi Enilolobo, as chairman of the Mandate Group in the APC in the state, resulting in a feud between the former governor of Osun and Tinubu.
However, investigation by First News revealed that two weeks after the development, the major caucuses within the Lagos APC are still functioning, despite Tinubu’s directive.
First News checks revealed that such groups include Mandate, Justice and Ideal, which are the largest and cutting across the 20 local government areas of the state.
Though these groups are not holding their regular meetings, they are, however, interfacing through different platforms, especially whatsapp, apparently to evade sanctions.
It was gathered that this social media platforms had long been in existence before Tinubu’s directive, and seen as very effective in information dissemination among their members.
A leader of one of the groups, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed their continued existence, saying it would be almost impossible to disband these groups, especially in the Lagos APC.
He hinged this on the fact that there are several interests within the party and these groups are platforms for actualising such interests.
Besides this, he disclosed that it would be very difficult to disband those caucuses because they had been in existence for over two decades.
He said, “Even Asiwaju himself is a beneficiary of these caucuses as they assisted in making him governor.
“Worse still, over ninety percent of those occupying appointive and elective positions on the platform of Lagos APC are products of caucuses and remain committed to the groups.
“Even in Epe, which is one of the smallest local governments in the state, there are so many caucuses and it will take a miracle for them to work together.”
A member of Ideal Club, led by Senator Ganiyu Solomon, confirmed that they have yet to disband.
He stressed that this is because it will be almost impossible to do so by any fiat.
He added, “We are still together and our leaders meet from time to time on issues concerning the club.
“The only reason you may not see us in large numbers is because of COVID-19, which has affected our meetings. But we interact regularity through WhatsApp.
“I can assure you that our activities will become more pronounced as we prepare for the eid-el-Kabir, during which we distribute food items and cash to members.
“I also foresee us coming alive politically before the end of the year in preparation for the 2021 local government election, especially since the positions are shared among the different camps.”
A party source added, “I think this directive by Asiwaju is dead on arrival because he knows too well that though we may be members of the same political party, some of us are sworn enemies and can never work together.
“How on earth do you think the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Surulere Council Chairman, Hon Tajudeen Ajide, would work together? Even Tinubu knows it cannot happen, as he had brokered peace several times between them to no avail,”