By Olanrewaju Adesanya
A zonal leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, who happened to be the former Lagos State Chairman of the party, Otunba Segun Adewale has dispelled claims in a report that he rejoiced over the removal of Engineer Deji Doherty as PDP Chairman in the state, describing it as another mischievous move by moles within the party to put cog in the wheel of peaceful progress barely 30 days to the council poll.
Adewale queries why a group led by an APC moles will in a clandestine manner want to disrupt the relative peace PDP now has, owing to the internal reconciliatory moves brokered by leaders in the party.
According to him, he had been a leading light in the struggle for a just and fair PDP long time ago and would not relent on this course till credibility is restored in the party.
Adewale disclosed that he was invited to witness the former Senate President Bukola Saraki led reconciliation committee,where Chief Olabode George and other leaders promised to settle their differences amicably out of court and with such resolve as a guide, he would never result to disparaging any leader of the party.
He noted that the statement was issued by the secretary of Southwest PDP, Mr Rahman Owokoniran whose intendment he Adewale, Mr. Adeola Adewunmi the southwest auditor or Dakova the National ex-officio representing Lagos, Southwest were not privy to.
Piqued by the fact that the Southwest Secretary Owokoniran was never loyal to the zonal leader Governor Seyi Makinde, but owe allegiance to Chief Bode George.
Adewale noted that the plot spiked his anger in that though he was not privy to it, yet his pictures was used to sell the story to the public through various publications.
All this publications if not retracted and my pictures removed, my lawyers will sue them for damages.
“Owokoniran is not loyal to the Governor of Oyo State a leader in our party, in all, he is out to disrupt the peace of PDP in Lagos in his bid to make sure we lose elections.
He granted an interview with my pictures featured instead of his. You never called us as leaders of PDP Lagos Southwest for any meeting as regards that, you made the pronouncement on your own and now put my pictures, clearly legal actions awaits all those news mediums if my pictures are not quickly yanked off their platforms.
“I didn’t know anything, the Southwest Secretary Owokoniran ought to have called everybody, he did not call me or Mr. Adeola Adewunmi the southwest auditor or Dakova the National ex-officio representing Lagos Southwest, who ought to be part of those who made the decision, he only used my pictures to sell the news.
Adewale however, tasked the party on the need to weed out the APC moles on time to improve on the fragile peace in PDP as they have sworn to an oath to cause mischief in the party’s ranks.
“I strongly believe until we deal ruthlessly with the moles in our midst, we may never smell victory in Lagos PDP.
“My genuine struggle for fairness in the party made me detest the Kangaroo victory where Dominic, a mere creation of Dr. Eddie Olafeso the then Southwest leader through appointment, an act void of any constitutional backing was asked to serve for three months, a tenure of which expired in December 2020.
“When the national refused to act or call for another congress to elect new chairman, I and my teeming supporters addressed the anomaly by removing Dominic seeing that just like every military head of state in Africa the sit tight syndrome is in his veins, it further affirms my passion for evolving a functional party,” Adewale said.
Adewale fondly called Aeroland further sued for peace amongst PDP faithful and especially leaders, given the fact that the election is barely three weeks away,he noted that in spite of all name calling by Chief Olabode George he still see him as a leader and won’t respond but would only urge him to call them together for a meeting to strategies on how to win the coming election.
Aeroland notes that most of PDP candidates are at a loss on the way forward, as they clearly lacks the moral and financial support to take the needed moves as time is of essence now.
“Most of our candidates are stranded now,nobody is talking about how to raise money to support them to win elections,the chairman who ought to organize the election is in disarray having been thrown out of the office few weeks to the conduct of election, but I know he is going to get a stay of execution.
“Imagine why would they do that three weeks to election? So if I call them moles people will get angry and say I don’t know what I am doing, having promised the Saraki led reconciliation committee that we are closing ranks it is sad that we are now in this sorry state.” Said Adewale.
It is however, a common knowledge that even some party faithful have been showing their detaste for the turn of events, on various PDP social media platforms that the sudden suspension of Deji Doherty the party’s State Chairman is illtimed.
In that he having acted as the face of PDP before the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), coordinating the preferred candidates for the coming election and having submitted their names for further processes, it only signalled a fact that certain elements within the party has been allegedly bought over by APC national Leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu to scuttle the visible victory of PDP in the council poll.
