The APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, has disassociated the party from persons making derogatory comments on civil servants in Osun State.
Basiru, who met with former Local Government Education Authority, LGEA officials at his residence in Osogbo on Friday, said such comments neither reflected the party’s position nor its ideology.
The APC scribe said that civil servants were critical stakeholders in the political and development growth of the state, adding that they were still a major factor in the party’s quest to win the August 15 governorship election.
He stressed that APC will never support any statement that is capable of insulting or reducing the dignity of civil servants.
“Those who go on radio to challenge workers on their numerical strength in Osun are not speaking for the APC. They have not been sent by the party and do not represent our position in any way.
Civil servants are enlightened people. They are respected in their communities and people listen to them because they know governance and leadership.
“I have a great respect for them, and no one has the right to insult them in the name of our party,” he said.
Bashiru urged the workers in the state not to vent their anger against the APC for the utterances of people who acted on their own.
“I want to appeal to our civil servants to desist from using their influence against the APC because of careless statements by some people.
He said: “These comments are personal opinions and not the official position of our party.
He further warned APC members and candidates against complacency as the governorship election draws near, saying that only hard work, unity and reconciliation within the party would guarantee victory.
“I don’t believe in automatic victory. There is no such thing in politics. “We must work in every ward, every polling unit. We must appeal to those who are aggrieved,” he said.
He urged all APC stakeholders to focus on the victory of the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, and warned aspirants for the National and State Assembly not to make the Aug. 15 governorship poll their only ambition.
“If we don’t win Oyebamiji on August 15, let me tell you, your Senate tickets, your House of Representatives tickets in the APC are like bread labels,” he said.
Basiru called for unity in the party, urging members to avoid internal wrangling and concentrate on the task of ensuring the return of APC to power in Osun.
