Loyalists of a former governor of Ogun State , Chief Olusegun Osoba, have urged the All Progressives Congress to heavily sanction the commissioner for youth and sports, Dr Kehinde Oluwadare , for abusing the former governor .
The loyalists , led by the Financial Secretary of the APC and a member of the Governor ’s Advisory Council , Sunday Sowunmi , said the call was made to serve as a deterrent to others .
The embattled commissioner had been quoted to have described Osoba as a failed leader that could not match a former Governor of Lagos State , Bola Tinubu in terms of grooming leaders .
Apparently dissociating himself and government from the comment by his commissioner , Governor Dapo Abiodun suspended Oluwadare indefinitely .
Though Osoba’s loyalists in Abeokuta South applauded the governor for the action , they insisted that the party must do something to sanction embattled commissioner to avoid further abuse of the party leader in the state .
Sowunmi said Abiodun would not have become the governor without Osoba ’s efforts before and during the election .
He said , “Despite the fact that the ‘baba ’ is a veteran journalist, he will not talk . But if we fold our hands and allow the commissioner to get away with such statements , that will be highly ridiculous .
“The fact is that he ( Osoba ) is a national leader and the architect of this government . So , I don ’t know why somebody in the government of Governor Abiodun will deem it fit to say such a thing about Chief Osoba . It is like biting the finger that fed it. ”
According to Sowunmi , what the commissioner said might be the reflection of what some people in the government might have been saying in their private discussions . He noted that that made him bold enough to say it out to the public .
He added , “I give kudos to Governor Dapo Abiodun for his immediate reaction.
He has done well. But we cannot just close keep quiet. ‘Oro ti ologbon ba so , enu ashiwere ni ati ngbo ’ ( what a wiseman says is echoed by a foolish man ) .
“I will further appeal to the APC in Ogun State to add more to the punishment given to the man by the governor because if we don ’t , it won’t be good for the party.
“I don ’t think anyone can dispute my statement , including the governor himself . Therefore , I will advise my people , including political colleagues , that it will be very unfortunate for us to stand up one day and begin to say such to our leaders , especially, Chief Osoba , who is an elder statesman .’’
“After the commissioner made such statements , we started receiving calls from every part of the country which is very embarrassing.”
