Osun PDP suspends chieftains for attending Oyinlola-led state nPDP meeting

Barely 24 hours after factional secretary of
Alhaji Kawu Baraje led new Peoples Democratic Party,
nPDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola held a rally in his
home-town, Okuku, attended by PDP members from all
the 30 local government areas in the state, the Osun
State chapter of the PDP has suspended chieftains of
the party including its former chairman, Alhaji Ademola
Rasaq, for attending the rally.
This came as the party gave, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade,
Oluwole Oke and Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, three
out of its four governorship aspirants 24 hours to
dissociate themselves from a statement credited to
Alhaji Rasaq, that they were now in the new PDP.
Only Senator Iyiola Omisore was exempted from facing
disciplinary action among the four aspirants.
According to a statement by the PDP executive last
night, the action of the party “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
nPDP, either by Prince Oyinlola or his proxy.
“Attending the meeting will be viewed as disobedience
to this directive and will attract strict disciplinary
measures.”
Those suspended are Ademola Rasaq, former Osun
state chairman of PDP, who resigned voluntarily after
Oyinlola lost at the Court of Appeal, Mr. Yinka Adeojo, a
member of a Federal Board, Mr. Soji
Adagunodo Oluwatukesi, a member of a Federal Board,
Alhaji Rasaq Oyetunji, a former chief driver to Oyinlola,
Mr. Ibukun Fadipe, Ilesa West Local Government,
Akomola Ayedaade Local Government, Teslim Igbalaiye,
member, federal board, Dapo Ayodele Boluwaduro Local
Government and Princess Bowade Oyewale Afolabi, a
member of Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment
Programme, SURE P, board in Osun State.
Also suspended were three wards chairmen in Ayedaade
Local Government wards 5, 6, 8 and were advised not to
parade themselves as ward chairmen.
They were directed to hand over to the vice chairmen of
the wards.
On the ultimatum given to three of its gubernatorial
aspirants, the party said: “It was disheartening to know
that with the governorship polls around the corner,
those who are supposed to be working assiduously to
regain Osun State are fraternising with those who do
not mean well for the state.”
The release said investigations had commenced into the
case of Prince Oyinlola and if he was found guilty, he
would face the wrath of the party.
But one of the governorship aspirants, Alhaji Fatai
Akinbade, in his reaction, accused Alahji Olaoluwa of
lacking leadership quality to administer party affairs in
the state.
Speaking through his media Consultant, Kayode Oladeji,
Akinbade 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 came to Abuja to curry the favour of the
Presidency to receive gratification.