The trouble shooting efforts of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, aimed at bringing back all aggrieved individuals back into the party’s states chapters across the country has run into troubled waters in the South-West, Daily Sun can authoritatively reveal. Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who recently resigned as chairman of the party Board of Trustees (BoT), according to Daily Sun source was disturbed by the recent re-admission of former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose into the party.
The National Working Committee (NWC) last Wednesday, after its meeting announced the readmission of Fayose into the party. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, while making the announcement noted that the Bamanga Tukur-led national working committee decision was “in line with the provision of Article 8(a) and Article 17.2 (g) of the PDP Constitution with effect from September 14, 2011. “By this action, Fayose is cleared to enjoy all rights and privileges of a member of the PDP without let or hindrance.’’
Also miffed by the NWC action was the South-West zonal executive of the party, led by Segun Oni which Daily Sun investigation further revealed was not carried along before the Tukur-led executive took the decision formally announcing Fayose absorption. “They just read PDP NWC absorption of Fayose in the newspapers like every other person in the party. The pronouncement was like a coup, as those fighting Ayo Fayose’s cause in the PDP NWC made sure that even the party national secretary from South-West was ignorant of their move.
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola was away in Osogbo, Osun state capital, answering questions from Governor Rauf Aregebesola panel of inquiry, while Fayose was being cleared by his colleagues,’’ Daily Sun source submitted. Further investigation by Daily Sun revealed that the PDP NWC might have decided to keep the South-West zonal executive in the dark because of the fact that both r Segun Oni and his predecessor, Ayodele Fayose were sworn political enemies in Ekiti State.
In the wake of the fresh election conducted in the state in 2009, following an election petition tribunal judgment, which ousted Segun Oni from office, Ayodele Fayose, his predecessor, refused to work for the former re-election then, in spite of several entreaties from party chieftains in the South-West. Since then both have been keeping each other at arms length, politically.
A party PDP source, however, said the re-absorption of Fayose was done in good faith, as the national chairman was interested in providing a formidable, harmonious party ahead of 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State. Before Fayose readmission last Wednesday, former president Olusegun Obasanjo was equally piqued over the audience granted the former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel when the latter came to the party national secretariat.
While speaking with journalists during the visit, Daniel had said he came to solidarise with Alhaji Bamanga Tukur over his election as party chairman, but Daily Sun source revealed that it was to seek for soft landing in the party, which he allegedly ditched during the 2011 general election. “The former president and party loyalists still hold the former governor responsible for the PDP electoral misfortune during the governorship election in the state.
“The former governor had floated a political party, Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) with one Gboyega Nasir Isiaka as governorship candidate, as against Obasanjo’s anointed candidate, General Adetunji Idowu Olurin, who ultimately picked the PDP ticket. “Even as Tukur’s intention to ensure amity remains genuine, Obasanjo’s sympathizers are aghast that Alhaji Tukur cannot read the body language of a man who sold his candidature to President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Tukur is being portrayed as an ingrate as Senator Muhammed Abba Aji, former presidential adviser on National Assembly Matters was Jonathan’s candidate for the position of national chairman of the party. It was Obasanjo who stormed the presidential villa and insisted on Bamanga Tukur,” Daily Sun source noted.
source--sunnewsonline
