SDP, A Platform For Political Jobbers – Faforiji

By Solomon Odeniyi

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has been described as a platform for political jobbers.

Former chairman of the party, Dr. Bayo Faforiji said he left the SDP when he realised that it had become ‘platform for jobbers.’

Faforiji, who spoke on a private radio station monitored by OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday in Osogbo, dismissed the allegations that he left the SDP to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he was not given political appointment.

He said he would not have left the PDP if he had not been cheated in the first instance, disclosing that he also joined the SDP for his support for the Senator Iyiola Omisore’s governorship ambitions.

Faforiji said: “Before I contested the chairmanship of the PDP, I was fully involved with its activities and was committed. But I felt slighted and cheated with the turn of events.  I had to take my leave.  After, I left for the SDP with Omisore, in whom I had so much confidence that he would become the governor. We did not go to SDP for jokes.

“I decided to return to the PDP because the SDP had become a platform for political jobbers.

“Against the speculations that I left the SDP because I was not given the position of Secretary to the State Government or Chief of Staff to the Governor, I am an experienced politician; I know it was not possible to have either of the two key positions given to an outsider. There is no party that can do that. That claim is baseless. I did not make any such demands.”

Asked if he would still love to be the chairman of the PDP, Faforiji said: “The seat is not vacant and it is not logical to eye a position that is not vacant. Though, there is crisis ongoing in the party.  The chairman has been asked to step aside after he was petitioned. If after their investigations, they find him innocent he would get his seat back. Personally, I wish he stays, because if I am alleged of anything, I will want the issue to be probed, if I am found innocent, it is a must for them to reinstate me.”

Faroriji, said with himself,  Oyinlola, Akinbade and others back to the PDP, the party stands a better chance at claiming victories in future elections.

He stated: PDP remains the party to beat in the state. In the last election, while we were not there, the PDP won before a rerun was conducted. With the return of Oyinlola, Akinbade and Dotun Babayemi and myself to the party, the party is more formidable than ever.”