Some stakeholders in the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, appealed to the presidential flag-bearer of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; former Governors Bisi Akande and Segun Osoba; National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and other critical leaders to intervene in the crisis affecting the chapter.

They also expressed worry that though the crisis might look simple on the surface, it is deeper and more complicated than what the Senator Femi Lanlehin-led 24-member reconciliation committee could resolve without external intervention.

A major discovery by The Guardian, while interacting with some of the aggrieved members was ‘lack of trust and confidence in the party’s governorship candidate for the 2023 election, Senator Teslim Folarin.

Many of the aggrieved were afraid that Folarin would betray and treat them with disdain if he peradventure wins the gubernatorial election next year.

Some aggrieved members alleged that Folarin, after winning the governorship ticket through the controversial congresses and primary elections, had continued to appropriate all the juicy and crucial positions to his loyalists. They also accused the Lanlehin-led committee of not addressing their concerns.

But Lanlehin said his committee was still going round to meet several stakeholders.

“Those we have interacted with are responding positively. We are doing our best to address issues of concern,” he said.

On the fear that Folarin might run an exclusive government if he wins, Lanlehin said: “We can only try to get the candidate to address these fears. These are parts of the issues in politics.”

He also said when it is necessary to invite elders and leaders of APC from outside Oyo State to intervene, “we will adopt that option because the party wants to win in 2023 and it requires all legitimate options to be used. The option to bring the elders in is also on the table.”

Similarly, a former Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy to erstwhile Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Mr Bolaji Tunji, a former special adviser on Communications and Strategy, to erstwhile Governor Abiola Ajimobi, said there was a need to resolve the crisis in Oyo APC if the party hopes to oust Governor Seyi Makinde next year.

“It is important to bring in an external force to reconcile the warring factions. The issue on the ground goes beyond setting up a reconciliation committee. There is a need to concede certain positions to the aggrieved. As we speak, all the critical positions have been distributed and that is why it is difficult for the Lanlehin committee to work. If the aggrieved members insist on not reconciling with Folarin, it may not be good for the presidential ambition of Tinubu.”

Meanwhile, when contacted, Osoba promised to raise the issue when necessary among the elders.