By Ayo Akintunde

A notable member of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Ekiti State Mr Gbenga Aluko has been accused to fueling discord and undermining the national leadership of the APC. The Oodua United Coalition Front, (OUCOF) in a statement on Saturday urged the Yoruba nation to be aware of politicians doing the hatchet job of creating more disaffection in Ekiti State with the hope of keeping the state in her present downward slide. The statement was made availale to Irohinoodua this Saturday. The group described Aluko as 'flippant and dishonorable."

“By attacking the National Leadership of the APC, using Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu as a peg, Mr Aluko will create more problems for our people in Ekiti and dim the prospect of ongoing efforts to work with the greater Yoruba family in returning Ekiti to a state of honour at a time many people are largely embarrassed by the sudden emergence of an ill-mannered political leadership in a state noted for her unrivalled education prowess.”

In a statement signed by Ademola Apanisile, the group’s leader in Ekiti State said Ekiti cannot be wrestled from the pangs of her present oppressors without the support of the greater Yoruba family.

“Attacking the APC national leadership will only make this task more hideous. The return of Ekiti to a progressive path in 2010 was with the financial and radical support of the Yoruba political leadership. We cannot do it alone. To turn around continuously to hit one of the pillars that keep you standing clearly shows lack of wisdom,” OUCOF stated.

OUCOF, which is a coalition of several Pan Yoruba group condemned Mr Aluko for his unprovoked attack on Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and the National Leader of the party.

Aluko visited the APC party secretariat this week where he chose to run the APC national leadership and all the policies of the party at the national level. He chose Asiwaju as the peg for his vicious verbal onslaught on the APC national leadership.

He did not only call the APC national leaders absurd names, he vigorously condemned the South West APC leadership as well. OUCOF wonders if Mr Aluko, who was in PDP until now, is an agent provocateur on the desperate mission of creating mischief in the APC or he is a PDP agent sent to destroy the APC in Ekiti and the South West. Aluko is contesting for the 2018 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State.

“Mr Aluko’s attack on the APC national leadership show clearly that he does not believe in the philosophy of the APC. He also does not want to see Ekiti State reunite with the greater Yoruba political family currently being led by the APC. It is a shame that Mr Aluko gives the impression of a candidate poised to further polarize the APC in Ekiti and in Yorubaland at large. What he stands to gain in this desperate game is yet to be ascertained.”

OUCOF said many of its members and some APC faithful in Ekiti were shocked to see Aluko launch a tirade of attacks on Asiwaju and the APC national leadership calling them all sorts of names during his visit to the APC secretariat in Ado Ekiti this week.

“With the last victory of the APC in most states of the South West, the Yoruba Nation has only started to consolidate, after emerging from the deep-seated cleavages characterized by the underdevelopment of the region due to the upsurge of the reactionary political groups that took over the South West, except Lagos in 2003. Asiwaju played and continue to play the leading role in this renaissance.

We think it is uncharitable for anyone to single out Asiwaju Tinubu for attacks considering the significant role he played in returning the entire South West on the right path”, OUCOF said in the statement.