There are very strong indications that the umbrella which shreds are just being put together by the warring factions of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may again have been torn into further shreds as a result of the controversy generated by the recently concluded governorship primaries. The man holding the razor this time is no other person than the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole.
Saturday Mirror tells us why Bankole with assistance from the National Headquarters of the PDP is using a multi-edged razor to bastardize the umbrella. Read the report below:
After a relative peace in the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), indications emerged, during the week, that all is not well with the opposition party as close party sources feared that the peace being enjoyed is of the graveyard and may portend danger in the 2015 general elections if not addressed by the leadership.
Saturday Mirror authoritative sources revealed that the latest crisis rocking the party was not unconnected with the alleged plot by the PDP national executive to impose former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, as the consensus candidate of the party for the 2015 govenorship election.
This is coming after the December 8 governorship primary where former General Manager of Gateway Holdings and the 2011 governorship candidate of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, emerged the party’s flag bearer.
But in a dramatic twist, a directive from PDP national secretariat ordered that the primary be cancelled claiming that the exercise did not follow due process.
But the party’s state chairman, Engr. Adebayo Dayo, in an exclusive interview with Saturday Mirror on Thursday, debunked the claim saying the primary conducted under his chairmanship followed due process.
Expressing his frustration at the turn of events in the state, Dayo disclosed to our reporter that the PDP at the state level had done the needful as far as the primary election was concerned before the PDP at the centre thought otherwise.
‘When I attended National Working Committee (NWC) last month, I was given the guidelines guiding the primary. I’ve also done all I needed to do, signed all the papers preparatory to the primary election.’
Continuing, the PDP chieftain said: ‘I have washed my hands clean, I have said all I have to say after all, I am supposed to be an umpire; I don’t have a vote but I believe the matter is in the hands of PDP National secretariat.”
In a veiled reference to the alleged plot to foist the former Speaker on the party, Dayo, who had vehemently opposed the move told our reporter: “Our national chairman is a law abiding citizen who would not want to do anything contrary to the will of the people but if anybody thinks that Abuja can put somebody down, he should put it into writing because he is our leader.”
Further checks have revealed that the entry of Bankole from Ogun Central into the governorship race is now tearing the party apart, threatening the fragile peace that is reigning between the people of Ogun West and Ogun Central Senatorial District.
Indications to this emerged last Monday as prominent leaders of Ogun West Senatorial District stormed Abeokuta, the state capital with different placards to protest the alleged plan by the leadership of the party in Abuja to withdraw the governorship ticket earlier won by their son, Gboyega Isiaka, and impose Bankole who they alleged did not participate in the primary.
Prominent leaders from the zone who spoke at the party secretariat on Monday included former Minister of National Planning, Mrs. Ebun Oyagbola, Alhaja Salmoat Badru, former Ogun State Deputy Governor and Iyabo Apampa, amongst others.
Source: Mirror
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