APC Chieftain, Okanlawon, Warns Against Division, Calls for Reconciliation After Oyo APC Primaries

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Engr. David Olusegun Okanlawon, has called for unity and genuine reconciliation among members of the party following the conclusion of its primary elections.

According to him, the continued internal wrangling could jeopardise the party's chances in the forthcoming governorship election.

Okanlawon, in a statement titled "Unlearned Lessons Lead to Leanness," described the wave of mudslinging and hostility among APC members and supporters over the primary exercise as disturbing and worrisome.

The Ibarapa born politician explained that the party should be concentrating on winning the general polls instead of engaging in internal conflicts.

"I am concerned by the noise and mudslinging among APC members and their supporters in Oyo State following the primaries. At a time when we are supposed to gear up to beat the incumbent party, we are busy tearing one another in pieces. Who bewitched us?" he said.

He urged the party's governorship candidate and his running mate to immediately begin a reconciliation drive.

The flagbearer, according to him, must shun the advisers who dismissed the importance of certain party stakeholders in the party ahead of the polls.

"I will beg our gubernatorial candidate and his deputy to start moving and neglect those that might be advising them to ignore one person or the other. Everyone matters in this election," he stated.

The APC stalwart noted that many party members criticising the conduct of the primaries were not enemies of the party but individuals who desired fairness and due process.

"Many of those you see criticising the process really want things to be done in the right way. They even love our candidates more than the frenemies that dine and wine with him every day but still don't want him to succeed," he added.

Addressing young party members, Okanlawon appealed for restraint and maturity, urging them not to allow political differences destroy relationships.

"It surprises me when I see our teeming youths fighting each other unnecessarily because of the choice of candidates. I strongly believe we can be more cultured in our dealings," he said.

He stressed that political differences should not translate into hostility, adding, "You can leave a party and go to another party without abusing people you're leaving. The fact that someone made a different choice does not make him or her your enemy."

Reflecting on previous political events, Okanlawon said the outcome of the 2026 primaries should serve as a lesson that political influence is temporary.

"We should learn a life lesson from what happened in the 2022 primary election. Those who controlled things in 2022 weren't the ones in charge in 2026. The same things that made the controllers of 2022 happy is potentially making them sad today," he said.

The Ibarapa born politician also condemned blackmail and character assassination in politics, maintaining that genuine success does not require pulling others down.

"The sky is big enough for everyone to fly. You don't have to talk bad about people before you succeed. If you really have to diminish someone before you can feel or look big, it means you are too small," he said.

Okanlawon recommended that the APC recognise the value of every member, reconcile with aggrieved aspirants and supporters, and discourage attacks based on differing political preferences.

"Those who unlearn important lessons are forced to relearn them through bitter experiences. Let's not be such people," he concluded.