Osun APC Reverses Suspension Of Gbajabiamila’s Aide, Kolapo Alimi

The All Progressives Congress, Osun State chapter, has reversed the suspension placed on former commissioner for Local government and chieftaincy affairs, Barr. Kolapo Alimi.

This was revealed to Publisher Nigeria via a statement signed by the party’s Legal Adviser, Chief Adegoke Ogunsola, on Saturday.

Alimi is a senior legislative aide to the Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and a former aide of Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola who was governor of Osun State for two terms.

The Publisher Nigeria recalls that Alimi suspension was made known in a letter jointly signed by Elerinsi Ward 9, Irepodun South Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Erin-Osun.

In the suspension letter jointly signed by 18 wards executives, including the chairman; vice-chairman, and PRO; Adebayo Tajudeen; Ibiyemi Kayode, and Adebayo Abdulgafar respectively, Alimi was suspended for “various anti-party activities”.

“We reviewed the various anti-party activities of Barrister Kolapo Moruff Alimi and we concluded that he is due for suspension.

“As the elders and stakeholders of the party have been duly carried along and he is hereby suspended from the party, APC,” the letter read.

Among the eighteen ward executive officers who signed the suspension letter are Organizing Secretary, Ibrahim Saida; Ass Treasurer, Israel Pitter and Mruf Ajimoh, Ex officio 1, among others.

Meanwhile, while reacting in a phone interview with CityNews Nigeria correspondent on Friday afternoon, the former commissioner said: “I was not invited by any committee of the ward anywhere to come and defend myself of any allegation. I am not concerned because the Chairman of my ward is the immediate brother of S.A. on Sanitation for Governor Oyetola.

“I saw the news of my suspension on Facebook. I am waiting for them to serve me the letter of suspension personally. If they don’t send me any such letter by Monday, I will write them that I saw such news online.

“There is procedure for doing things. This is democracy. If they don’t send me personal letter by Monday, I will write a letter to the state chairman, zone, local and ward. They have to response. If they don’t, I will then take them to court.”

However, in a latest development, the party’s Legal Adviser said the caretaker Chairman of Elerin Ward 9, Irepodun Local Government and his executives failed to comply with provision of the party’s constitution over the suspension of an erring member.

Ogunsola admitted that the conduct of Alimi, a former Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs in the state, is an embarrassment to the party.

He added that opportunity for fair hearing was not accorded the party chieftain before his suspension.

The statement read, “The State Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun State Chapter, received a letter titled “SUSPENSION OF BARR. KOLAPO MARUF ALIMI FROM ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (AP.C)” dated 16″ June, 2021 and addressed to the Chairman of the State Caretaker Committee of the party from the APC Caretaker Committee at Ward 09 (Elerin C) of Irepodun Local Government Council Area of Osun State.

“I wish to note, on behalf of the All Progressives Congress, Osun State Chapter, that the recent political activities and conducts and the derogatory utterances of Barr, Kolapo Maruf Alimi, the immediate past Commissioner for Local Government in the State and a political associate of the immediate past Governor of Osun State Mr. Rauf Aregbescla against the Governor of the State, His Excellency Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola and the Chairman of the State Caretaker Committee of All Progressives Congress Prince Gboyega Famodun, are worrisome and constitute a monumental embarrassment to the Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

“However, as a political party that believes in the rule of law and the principle of fair hearing it has been observed that the procedure laid-down in Article 21 of the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) Constitution, which regulates the decision of the party to suspend its members found guilty of misconduct orland anti-party activities, was not strictly followed by the APC Caretaker Committee at Ward 09 (Elerin C) of Irepodun Local Government Council Area of Osun State in suspending Bart Kolapo Maruf Alimi

“I, Chief (Barr.) Adegoke Ogunsola, the State Legal Adviser of the State Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress, having examined the procedure adapted by the A.P.C. Caretaker Committee at Ward 09 (Elerin C) of Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State in suspending Barr. Kolapo Maruf Alimi and in consultation with other members of the ate Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress Osun State Chapter, hereby declared the said procedure most irregular, defective and devoid of the required principle of law for its sustainability.

“Consequently the said suspension of Barr Kolapo Maruf Alimi from the Al Progressives Congress by APC Caretaker Committee at Ward 09 (Elerin C) of Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State could not be ratified by the APC State Caretaker Committee and as a result, the Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress at Ward 09 (Elerin C) of Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State is hereby overruled and the suspension of Barr Kolapo Maruf Alimi is hereby nullified and declared null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”