Alimi’s Suspension A Nullity – Salinsile, APC State Secretary

 

The Caretaker Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in the State of Osun, Hon Rasaq Salinsile has said that the suspension of the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Barr. Kolapo Alimi from the party, is a nullity.

Salinsile said the party executive members at Alimi’s Ward did not follow due process in carrying out the suspension.

In an exclusive interview with OSUN DEFENDER on Friday, Salinsile noted
that the suspension was carried out in defiance to Article 21 of the APC Constitution.

He also disclosed that the party at the State Secretariat of the APC was yet to receive an official information from Alimi’s Ward executive members on the suspension.

Salinsile said: “Nobody has served the state secretariate any suspension letter. I am the Secretary of the party and I am talking to you on that authority. I only read the suspension online.

“I do not know in any clime where a person would not be given any allegation, would not be asked questions of his alleged misconduct, will not be informed of anything that he has purportedly done wrong, he would not be served any letter that he had committed any offence and he has been suspended. I do not know any part of the world where such happens.

“The constitution of the party is clear about it. It has stipulated all the offences thinkable and unthinkable that people can commit. What is his offence or what are his offences? Anybody can commit any offence whatsoever. But in this case, he will be invited to defend himself, nothing of such has happened.

“The constitution is very clear about fair hearing. Was he given any fair hearing at all? I do not think those behind the suspension have the knowledge of the constitution of the party because they have not followed the laid down rules, most importantly; Article 21 that talks about discipline of party members.

“The constitution of the party recognises the ward as an integral part starting from units. The constitution also recognises the unit level. The limits of its powers are spelt out under the constitution.

“As a result, I want to see their action as ultra bias and of no effect. It is a nullity. They have not followed the laid down procedures for punishing offenders.

“I want to see it as intimidation by those who carried out the suspension order on Alimi. It must have been borne out of enmity and envy but I believe APC is a big family, any misunderstanding that we have, we settle it amicably. We have leaders, we have stakeholders in different levels who can handle that.”

The party chieftain noted that Alimi’s “illegal suspension” is part of the internal wrongs which The Osun Progressives (TOP), a new caucus of the party seeks to address.

“That is what TOP; The Osun Progressives is talking about. The party has no direction again. Everybody is just behaving anyhow. It is ridiculing the party, it is reducing the level of success and the chances of the party in future elections. When members are intimidated, when members are frustrated, how will they concentrate on thinking on how to sustain power for APC in the state.

“All of us should rally round TOP for its seven objectives which if religiously followed, will help the party a lot and put the party in a stead for winning the next election which is fast approaching,” Salinsile stressed.