2023: Progressive lawyers oppose proposed APC South West presidential hopefuls meeting

Progressive Lawyers for Osinbajo (OLP) has kicked against the proposed gathering of South West presidential hopefuls on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform by some leaders in the region.

The group’s Coordinator and Constitutional Lawyer, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja that it was the wrong motive and the wrong move

Ajulo said the meeting, scheduled for May 6 at the Casa del Estado, Marina, Lagos, lacked some elements of credibility.

He agreed that the initiative grew out of an earlier call for Yoruba leaders to hold a strategic conference to guide the fate of the South West in the upcoming presidential election.

He noted that it was the group’s greatest wish that such an important meeting be broadcast with a view to building a consensus among APC hopefuls in the Southwest.

However, he said it should have been properly designed to promote fairness with genuine intent.

“This previously scheduled meeting should have been a welcome development, but for the following configurations that were not designed correctly as they should be.

“The composition of the personality invited to the meeting is a testament to our position that it is an APC sectional issue and not of interest to the South West and Nigeria,” he said.

The group said the choice of the location in Lagos state, which is the Casa de Bandera in Marina, belonged to Lagos state and its partners and would not bode well.

“This place should not host such a meeting if it is deemed to be credible and fair.

“The meeting, if it is for the collective good of the people, should be held in a neutral place like Ibadan, Oyo state or Akure, Ondo state,” he said.

He alleged that a statement had already been drafted based on the information available to him, and added that it was in favor of a particular candidate.

The constitutional lawyer said that the document was currently in circulation among some of the guests.

“It is on this premise that we look forward to a meeting convened by prominent leaders from the Southwest such as Chief Afe Babalola, Chief Femi Okunnu, Pa. Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Wole Olanipekun.

“Others include Professor Tunde Adeniran, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Iba Gani Adams, Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba, and front-line traditional rulers in the Southwest, as well as governors of the region,” he said.

He said that the meeting as broadcast with an alleged pre-written statement without the inclusion of the aforementioned notable statesmen on the guest list was premeditated.