Congress: Osun PDP Factions Set For Showdown

By Kehinde Ayantunji

The two factions of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun are now set for showdown in the battle for the soul of the party in the coming congress as directed by the National Convention of the party.

PDP at its National Convention presided over by its National Caretaker Chairman, Senator Hammed Makarfi last week dissolved the Osun, Lagos,  Ogun and Adamawa States Working Committees of the party as a result of the crisis that emanated from their various congresses.   Contrary to the expectation of the national leadership of the party that elective congress may permanently resolve the leadership tussle in the state, the reality on ground suggests battle till finish and winner takes all.

The contending leaders, Hon Soji Adagunodo and Dr Bayo Faforijin led-factions have relocated to Abuja mounting pressure on the national leadership of the party at the Wadata Plaza for the appointment of favourable caretaker committee members.

An highly placed source at the South West Secretariat of the party confirmed to our reporter that the caretaker members directed by the convention would be appointed from outside to ensure transparency and fair play.

According to the source who was a former member of the state executive committee, the party national leadership has ruled out the possibility of appointing the state leadership within, having established that majority of the leaders have pitched tents with the two camps.

The source said “there are three proposals before Makarfi, that the two factions should nominate members for the caretaker committee and appointed a chairman outside the state who may be perceived not to be disposed to any of the factions”.

“Another proposal before the party leadership is the constitution of even number members of Five to Seven, drawn from the two camps and appoint a Chairman who should be the highest political office holder in the state which by implication referring to Senator Ademola Adeleke”

The proponent of the Adeleke agenda believed that the two camps worked for Adeleke during the last Senatorial bye-election and he should ordinarily be expected to be fair to all.

The third proposal according to the party leader is to appoint PDP Board of Trustee members to be chair by a serving Governor from the party or serving senator from the party without any members from the state.

But in anticipation of the caretaker members to be appointed possibly this weekend, the two factions have commenced moblisation for the congress after rejecting consensus arrangement from the ward to the state level.

It was gathered that the two factions have agreed on elective convention (option A4) and ready to sign a pact of no concession after the congress.

The two factions are seriously deploying arsenals to win the next congress by all means, a development that some chieftains of the party described as capable of spelling doom for the party in the state if not properly managed.

A  former Local Government Chairman of the party,  Alhaji Rasak Ibraheem  told Osun Defender that the incoming congress may generate more crisis than before with the “winner takes all” ambition of Hon Soji Adagunodo and Dr Bayo Faforijin  led factions.

He said “The two factions are preparing for the convention as if they are embarking on revolution where one class must crush the other completely and the result may not be in the interest of the party.”

“I will rather advise the party that to finally get rid of the crisis, the best option is to harmonise the state executives; with the expected arrangement from the caretaker, we are going to manage the crisis till next year that we are going to have gubernatorial election.

“What is glaring is that it is the gubernatorial ambition that is causing leadership crisis and if Omisore camp wins the congress which I doubt, it will not give room for concession for the Adagunodo camp where big wigs like Adejare Bello, Francis Fadahunsi, Kayode Oduoye, Erelu Olusola Obada and Alhaji Suhaib Oyedokun among others belonged.”

“My fear is also that if Adagunodo camp defeats Omisore camp, it will not be a tea party game considering the weight of Omisore in the party; the best thing is consensus but it appeares belated because the two camps have made up their minds”.

It would be recalled that the national convention of the party dissolved the executives council after months of leadership tussle that has partitioned the party secretariats in the state.

Adagunodo are currently operating in Biket area while Faforijin are operating from the former party secretariat in Onward, Gbondan road