The prolonged leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State on Wednesday took another dimension when a chieftain of the party and former Deputy Senate Whip, Senator Hosea Ayoola Agboola resigned his membership of the party. This comes after Tuesday’s meeting of the party’s leadership in the house of a former Governor of the state, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja.
Agboola was the only PDP Senator from South West in the seventh National Assembly.
DAILY POST gathered that the Deputy National Chairman of the party, elder Yemi Akinwonmi; Zonal Chairman, Dr. Eddy Olafeso; Lagos State Chairman, Hon. Moshood Adegoke Salvador; Zonal Secretary, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo and Ex-Officio, Arewa Nike had on Tuesday stormed Ladoja’s Bodija Ibadan residence to persuade him over the harmonization of the PDP state executive list.
But, Agboola who was at the forefront of those clamouring for the harmonization of the executive while speaking with journalists, said he was not happy with the Tuesday’s homage paid to Ladoja by the party’s hierarchy.
He, however, declared that he was leaving the party.
Agboola said, “With this visit, the party has finally handed the fate of Oyo PDP in Ladoja’s hand. Here is somebody whose leadership style will finally sink the boat of the party. Why do they think we were praying for harmonization? It is basically to give room for true reconciliation of all factions, following the parallel Congress of last year. And before now, we have made it clear that anything short of true reconciliation, we won’t welcome it.
“I am taken aback by such visit which was largely once sided. And it has shown us that the party does not want the PDP to win this state in 2019. The National Working Committee should count some of us out on this latest development which would certainly boomerang in the loss of the coming election.
“For the party to now say that somebody whose anti-party activities are legendary should be the alfa and omega of the party we all toiled to grow to this level, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Here was Ladoja who in 2007 sponsored a candidate in All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) against the PDP gubernatorial candidate which the PDP won. Again in 2011, he left PDP to join Accord and contested but lost.
“If one may ask, where are these two parties; the ANPP and Accord today in this state? The PDP will certainly go into extinction in Ladoja’s hand unless the National Working Committee (NWC) wades in before it is too late to reconcile and harmonise the executive, and until that is done, I am leaving the party for them. I assure my supporters statewide and more importantly Oyo North senatorial district to await further directives.”
When asked if he was not invited to the meeting, Agboola said “I was invited but I made it clear to them that I won’t attend any meeting in Ladoja’s house. Can’t we meet at the state party Secretariat? Many of PDP chieftains had left the party because of Ladoja’s style of leadership.”
He said, “I was invited but I made it clear to them that I won’t attend any meeting called outside the party Secretariat, I will never attend meeting in Ladoja’s house. Thank God, it is less than a year now to the next general election, we will all see the results”.
DAILY POST further gathered that a statement signed by Anthony Agbetuyi, Personal Assistant to the PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi had quoted Ladoja expressing commitment to the PDP following the meeting of Tuesday.
Ladoja was quoted as having said, “I want to encourage our party members and all well-wishers to remain steadfast and strong in this journey as we approach 2019 general election and deliver our people from the hand of the All Progressives Congress”.
Other leaders in attendance at the said meeting included the state PDP Chairman, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha; Senator Hamzat Ayo Adeseun; Senator Olufemi Lanlehin; Senator Kamorudeen Adedubu and Hon. Muraina Ajibola.
Others are Barrister Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli; Mr. Bayo Lawal; Dr. Saka Balogun; Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran; Hon. Bimbo Adepoju; Mukeso Destiny and Mr. Wasiu Emiola.
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