My Encounter With Bashiru Lamidi Apapa, Factional Chairman Of The Labour Party- Wole Adedoyin

 

MY ENCOUNTER WITH BASHIRU LAMIDI APAPA, FACTIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE LABOUR PARTY- WOLE ADEDOYIN

 

In a recent article, I shared my encounter with the Late Comrade Laoye Sanda and now feel compelled to talk about another significant figure, Comrade Lamidi Apapa. Alhaji Lamidi Apapa is a dedicated labour activist and former Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Labour Party (LP) in Oyo State. His recent rise to national prominence is closely tied to the ongoing crisis within the Labour Party.

During the suspension of Comrade Abure, the factional Chairman of the Labour Party, another faction within the party declared Alhaji Lamidi Apapa as their factional Acting National Chairman. The matter is currently before the courts, awaiting resolution.

Before my tenure as the pioneer Secretary of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Oyo State and later as the State Secretary of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), I served as the state Secretary of the Coalition for A New Nigeria with the Late Comrade Laoye Sanda as Chairman. It was during this time that I first crossed paths with Alhaji Lamidi Apapa. While I represented the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Lamidi Apapa represented the Labour Party within the coalition. The primary objective of the Coalition for A New Nigeria was to challenge the political administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by the Late Otunba Alao Akala. Alhaji Lamidi Apapa played a pivotal role in the success of this coalition.

We were well aware of the attempts made by the government of the Late Otunba Alao Akala to entice Alhaji Lamidi Apapa with monetary offers and enticing appointments in a bid to secure his support. However, Alhaji Lamidi Apapa stood firm and rejected these offers.

Upon the announcement of Alhaji Lamidi Apapa's involvement in the Labour Party, the supporters of the "Obidients" (followers of Peter Obi) took to the Internet to criticize him. Some resorted to name-calling, referring to him as an herbalist, masquerade, or even Bin Laden. The Obidients believed that President-Elect Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sponsoring Alhaji Lamidi Apapa to destabilize the Labour Party (LP).

Having known Alhaji Lamidi Apapa for a considerable period, especially during the Coalition for a New Nigeria Days, I confidently dismiss these allegations. He is an honest, transparent, and trustworthy politician who cannot be swayed by monetary influence. The rumors circulating about him are entirely baseless.

I am well aware of the disruptive behaviors exhibited by some obedient individuals who refer to Alh. Lamidi Apapa using different derogatory names. Prior to the 2023 General elections, I shared a post on my Facebook timeline explaining why I intended to vote for Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the recently concluded election. In that write-up, I clearly stated that I had voted against Tinubu's cousin, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, in the 2022 Osun Governorship election. Instead, I cast my vote for Senator Ademola Adeleke, the incumbent governor of the state. In my post, I cited Oyetola's poor performance during his first term in office, the lack of a people-oriented plan, and inadequate manifestoes that could further hinder the economic development of Osun State. While continuing my write-up, I made a promise to vote for Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which I eventually fulfilled. However, this publication on my timeline greatly angered some of the obedient individuals who were also my Facebook friends. Within minutes of sharing my thoughts on voting for Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some of them began to insult me, unfriended me, or removed me from their groups.

This is the essence of the Obidients group: they hold the belief that the world exists solely for their own benefit. They firmly assert their authority and consider their decisions to be absolute. Any form of criticism directed at Obi is met with severe consequences. Even the slightest disagreement with his statements prompts them to react as if the heavens themselves were about to collapse. It troubles me greatly when I come across numerous writings by the Obidients, which aim to undermine the political achievements of Alh. Lamidi Apapa—a respected political leader whom I had the privilege of working with. I personally witnessed his remarkable political background and it is disheartening to see individuals from obscure origins tarnishing his political legacy.

Now, regarding the matter involving Alh. Lamidi Apapa, I knew that some of the aggrieved obedient individuals were spreading false information about him. During our time in the Coalition for A New Nigeria, Alh. Lamidi Apapa served as the vice chairman of the Coalition while also providing advisory support to the movement. I held the position of state secretary within the same Coalition. Alh. Lamidi Apapa is a political strategist and a grassroots politician. In 2007, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the current Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, endorsed him as the preferred gubernatorial candidate and instructed his followers to vote for him and his party, the Labour Party, in the upcoming election.

During the years that both Alh. Lamidi Apapa and I dedicated to the political struggle, I gained valuable knowledge from him. Under his leadership as Chairman of the Labour Party in Oyo State, the party not only became formidable but also emerged as a significant political force in the history of Oyo State.

Alh. Lamidi Apapa is a principled, trustworthy, and honest politician. Those who are fabricating lies against him are only trying to hinder his progress.

I acknowledge the existence of plots orchestrated by certain regressive elements aimed at undermining him. Alhaji Lamidi Apapa, from my understanding, is a resilient individual. He cannot be easily vanquished. Accusing him of accepting funds from Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not just an effort to tarnish his reputation but also an attempt to undermine the integrity he has painstakingly built.

The political chronicles of Oyo State would be incomplete without mentioning the name of Alhaji Lamidi Apapa. He has proven his worth not only as a champion of labour rights but also as a grassroots politician who has positively influenced the lives of numerous supporters. If Alhaji Lamidi Apapa was truly as reprehensible as some critics suggest, he would not have garnered support from individuals hailing from the eastern and northern regions of the country who align themselves with the ideals of the Labour Party.

Wole Adedoyin holds the position of National Coordinator in both the Writers for Democratic Change (WDC) and the Democratic Writers Association of Nigeria (DWAN). Additionally, he is recognized as the inaugural Secretary of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Oyo State and has previously served as the Secretary of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) in Oyo State.