The cold war between President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo reverberated at the Peoples Democratic Party today as Obasanjo’s loyalists were removed from sensitive positions in the party.
The National Chairman of the party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, backed by President Jonathan, moved against the National Auditor of the party, Alhaji Bode Mustapha, who was booted aside in favour of Alhaji Fatai Adewole Adeyanju. The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) declared him to be the validly elected National Auditor.
Following the removal from office of Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the National Secretary, Mustapha was the only eye of the former President at the NWC.
Both Mustapha and Oyinlola are very close to the party’s governors, who, like Obasanjo, are also against Jonathan contesting in 2015.
Also removed is the National Vice-Chairman of the party in South-West, Mr. Segun Oni, the former governor of Ekiti State who was removed by the courts three years ago. He is also close to 0basanjo.
Sources said that the decision to remove the men, although based on a court judgment which was given more than six months ago, is traceable to Jonathan’s decision to seize control of the party in the zone and whittle down Obasanjo’s influence.
The party also took the fight to Obasanjo’s home state, Ogun, where it removed the chairman, and then recognised the faction that opposes the retired army general.
A statement by Olisa Metuh, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, said the NWC has set up a 17-man Caretaker Committee to pilot the affairs of the Ogun State Chapter pending the conduct of the State Congress. It will be headed by Barrister Ishola Filani as Zonal Chairman.
The NWC held that the Executive Committee constituted for the party in Ogun State at Congresses conducted by the Bashorun Dayo Soremi led harmonized Executive Committee for the Wards, Local Governments and in the State in March 2012 is the valid Exco of the party at the various levels in Ogun State and is entitled to their four-year tenure.
The NWC further resolved to organize a fresh South West Zonal Congress at which access would be given to delegates elected at congresses conducted by or under the supervision of the Soremi-led Ogun State Executive and accept the candidacy, for offices zoned to Ogun State, of only the persons nominated at the said congresses for the said offices.
Other members of the Caretaker Committee are as follows: · Chief Pegba Otemolu – Zonal Secretary · Adedeji Doherty – Organizing Secretary · Rasak Adekonla Akanni – Audito · Bolaji Jeje – Youth Leader · Orimolade Olanrewaju – Treasurer · Olawunmi Oshinmoluke Yuba – Woman Leader · Banji Obasanmi – Financial Secretary · Barrister Shola Oludipe – Legal Adviser · Lawal Waheed Olatunde – Publicity Secretary · Emmanuel Oladejo – Ex-Officio · Olalekan Abubakar – Ex-Officio · Seun Adesanya – Ex-Officio · Samiu Babatunde – Ex-Officio · Prince Tope Ademiluyi – Ex-Officio · Tunde Olowofoyeku – Ex-Officio · Prince Omoniyi Alo – Ex-Officio
[Sahara Reporters]
Comments