By Toba Adedeji
As the Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party continues to bask in crisis over the result of the ward congresses recently held across the state, the Soji Adagunodo led faction on Monday rejected the harmonization template handed to them by Chairman, National Caretaker committee, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi.
Hon. Soji Adagunodo who announced the rejection to newsmen at the Party’s Secretariat, Osogbo in the presence of the former Deputy Governor of the state, Erelu Olusola Obada and the pioneer State Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, kicked against the template describing it as ‘unjust’.
The letter read by Hon Adagunodo to party members dated, 27th November 2017 had the former speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Adejare Bello, Mr Bamidele Salam, a gubernatorial aspirant, Kayode Oduoye and other 21 Chieftains of the party as signatories.
The letter alleged that the Dr. Bayo Faforiji faction has altered the ward congresses list saying they have observed that the results have been deliberately kept away from them because of the alteration.
The letter titled, “RE: PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY OSUN STATE TEMPLATE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS HARMONIZATION: OUR POSITION, read, “We refer to the template for the Local government areas harmonization discussed by the two groups of Adagunodo/Faforiji on Tuesday 21st November, 2017 at the PDP National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza , Abuja Chaired by Senator Abdul Ningi- the National Organizing Secretary of PDP in company of Prince Dayo Adeyeye- National Publicity Secretary, Hajiya Adodo- National Women Leader, Alhaji Sarafa Isola- Osun State PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman as well as Hon Demola Ojo- Osun State PDP Caretaker Committee Secretary. Senator Ademola Adeleke and Hon Wole Oke were also in attendance”.
“After due consultation with the leadership, Stakeholders, rank and file of the membership of the Party across the 30 Local government areas of Osun State, we were mandated to inform you that the said template discussed at the aforementioned meeting is not acceptable to the generality of Party members in Osun State as it is not proportional to the strength of the groups as reflected in the INEC authenticated WARD CONGRESS result.
“Also members of the Party that paid for and obtained nomination forms, in accordance to the party’s constitution and congress guidelines, are insisting that due process and internal democracy must be followed, more so that the majority of the people who, by the principle of harmonization that will be the major beneficiaries as being demanded, did not obtain any nomination forms.
“More importantly, there are insinuations that the ward congress list has been altered in favour of Faforiji group .The insinuations seem correct as we have observed that the results have been deliberately kept away from us.
” Our plea, therefore, is to urge you to draw an all- inclusive template that would reflect the proportional strength of the groups across the state. We therefore demand for the Certified true copy of the results of the ward congress.
“Please permit us to state that we are not confrontational but leadership demands that we convey the position of our teeming Party members who are the mobilizers of the Osun State electorates to you”.
The Faction noted in their letter that, 213 wards concluded their elective congresses while the remaining 119 were subsequently harmonised.
According to the letter, “All efforts to move on to the subsequent stages of Local and State congresses have been thwarted by forces who do not mean well for the party. Nomination forms have been bought and submitted by party members who desire to contest for party offices but the National headquarters of the party has connived with a tiny minority to prevent the holding of congresses. Rather they are pushing for what they called harmonisation which does not take into consideration the strength of each group and aspirants.
“The whole plan is to foist the will of the minority and the majority. This is contrary to the spirit of internal democracy promised by the National Caretaker committee of the party. It is a continuation of the ugly past of impunity which the Makarfi exco promised to deviate from,” the Faction concluded.
According to Adagunodo, “The follwing big wigs were the signatory to the letter; Niyi Owolade Esq., Hon. Muyiwa Oladimeji, Rt. Hon. Adejare Bello Esq, Dr. Lere Oyewumi, Dapo Adekunle Esq, Alhaja Afusat Amoo, Hon. Akanmu Akanfe, Bamidele Salam Esq., Alhaji Asifat Olarinde, Kayode Oduoye Esq., Hon. Adekunle Alao, Mrs Cicilia Omolaoye, Alhaji Ayorinde Fatai, Major R.A Towobola (Rtd), Hon. Wole Afolaju, Hon. Mayowa Adejorin, Hon. Ayodeji Areola, Deacon Noah Oderinu, Mrs Rolake Oluokun, Mr. Sunday Olagbaju, Taofeeq Olayiwola Esq., Hon Ebenezer Adeniji, Alhaji Liadi Gbadamosi and Hon (Mrs.) Akande.’