Razaq Bamidele
Former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Hon. AbdulLateef AbdurHakeem, has withdrawn his resignation letter from his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC).
AbdulHakeem took the step following a meeting with the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Lagos State, on Wednesday.
Recall that AbdulLateef based his withdrawal from the ruling party on the rejection of his movement by some “close leaders” he respected in the party.
The one-time Lagos lawmaker recently launched Iyepe 2023 on September 29, a movement to galvanise Lagosians to develop more interest in politics and curb voter’s apathy.
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The party leaders urged him to return to the party because it could not afford to lose and important member of his caliber.
In attendance at the meeting held in Ikeja GRA were State Chairman of the party, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, leaders of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), including Prince Tajudeen Olusi, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Prince Rabiu Oluwa, Alhaji Bushira Alebiosu and Omoba Murphy Adetoro.
The party Chieftains assured AbdulLateef of support to his move to galvanise more members for the party and making it stronger.
They also reconciled him and some party leaders that do not buy into his project, urging them to work hand in hand for the progress of the party .
“Hon. Iyepe is a blessing to the party. He has done much to move the party forward. We cannot at this time allow him to just go like that. If there are issues, we resolve them. That is why the machinery of GAC was put in place to amicably resolve differences,” he said.
Another source described AbdulLateef as a grass root mobiliser.
“His kind is rare in the party. He has for a long time combined party’s affiliation with religious propagation and has not been found wanting. He is a big fish in the party and commands large followers.
“We cannot allow such a person to leave our party due to issues we can sit on a round table to iron out. I commend the party leaders for taking a bold step to quickly bring him back to our fold,” a source close to the meeting said.
AbdulLateef declined to talk about the meeting with the party leaders.
When pressed further, he simply said, “it is true that I have agreed to return to the party.”