The feud at the national level of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has trickled down to the Osun State chapter of the party which has placed a former chairman of the party, Alhaji Ademola Rasaq alongside some of its leaders in the state under suspension for purportedly flouting the order not to attend the meeting called by ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
The suspension order was communicated via a statement by the state chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa in Osogbo, the state capital on Monday.
The party had last Thursday threatened to sanction any member who attended any meeting called by Oyinlola, the national secretary of the factional PDP or any member of the new PDP.
However, that order was disregarded on Sunday when thousands of PDP members trooped out to Odo Otin Grammar School, Okuku, to attend a meeting called by Oyinlola.
The party also gave three out of the four governorship aspirants in the state a 24-hour ultimatum to retract the statement credited to Rasaq that they (three governorship aspirants) were together with Oyinlola.
The concerned aspirants are, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, Oluwole Oke and Olasunkanmi Akinlabi.
The statement read in part, “Osun State chapter of the PDP has announced the suspension of some of its members for romancing and attending a meeting of the so called new PDP. The party has also given three out of its four aspirants 24 hours to dissociate themselves from a statement credited to the former chairman of the party, Alhaji Ademola Rasaq who said three of the four aspirants Fatai Akinbade,O luwole Oke and Olasunkanmi Akinlabi are in the so called new PDP.
“This is coming on the heels of the warning of the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamangar Tukur and the resolution of a general congress of the Osun PDP where it was unanimously agreed that no member of the party in the state should attend any meeting called by the so called new PDP, either by Prince Oyinlola or his proxy as disobedience to this directive will attract strict disciplinary measures
“Those suspended are Alhaji Ademola Rasaq, former chairman PDP; Mr. Yinka Adeojo, a member of a federal board; Mr. Soji Adagunodo Oluwatukesi, member of a federal board; Alhaji Rasaq Oyetunji, a former chief driver to Oyinlola, Mr. Ibukun Fadipe; Alhaji Akomola Ayedaade; Teslim Igbalaiye, member federal board; Dapo Ayodele Boluwaduro and Princess Bowade Oyewale Afolabi, member Sure-P Board in Osun State.
“Also suspended are three wards chairmen in Ayedaade Local Government Ward 5, 6, 8 and were advised not to parade themselves as ward chairmen; they should hand over to the vice chairmen of the wards.”
However, one of the governorship aspirants, Akinbade, in his reaction, accused Alahji Olaoluwa of lacking the leadership quality to run the state PDP.
Akinbade, who made this position known through his media Consultant, Kayode Oladeji, noted that elections were not won on the pages of newspapers and advised President Goodluck Jonathan to be wary of those politicians from Osun State, who visit Abuja to curry the favour of the Presidency to receive gratification.
