Politics
Resolution of Lagos PDP crisis not in sight …group calls for Obanikoro’s suspension
The crisis bedeviling the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party since the conduct of the 2015 general elections is deepening on daily basis. Right now there are calls for the suspension of MusiliuObanikoro, who was accused of plotting to hijack the party ahead of 2019. OKUNADE ADEKUNLE reports
By OKUNADE ADEKUNLE
The crisis rocking the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is getting messier as stakeholders and members of the party continue to trade blames and accusation over the removal of the state chairman of the party, TunjiShelle. It is believed that the sudden move to remove Shelle was targeted at the former minister of foreign Affairs 11 and governorship aspirant in the last election, Senator MusiliuObanikoro. The group loyal to the former deputy vice-chairman of the party, Chief Bode George, thinks that Obanikoro has the intention of hijacking the party completely from the pioneer members of the party in the state. They suggested that he plans to reorganize the party to achieve his personal interest and for him to use the platform to run in 2019.
It is a fact that the state executive committee of the party which examined the recommendations of the disciplinary committee setup to investigate the allegation of financial misappropriation leveled against Shelle, comprisedof loyalists of Obanikoro who are aggrieved by the outcome of the party’s governorship primary election last year. At the last primaries election, Obanikoro depended on the committee to mobilise the grassroots and delegates for the PDP primaries, while Agbaje solely depended on the machinery of Chief George and the state executive council to grab the ticket during the primaries. The state executive committee controls the party at the grassroots level, while the executive council manages the party at the state level. The crisis in the party is a battle of who controls the party ahead of 2019 general election and who gets what after the repositioning of the party.
It is necessary to state that the crisis in the party is getting hotter as the gladiators in the tussle engineer groups and members to campaign for the removal and suspension of party leaders. It was only recently that a group under the umbrella of “Concerned PDP Elders and Stakeholders” led by Mr.Lanre Hassan seen by supporters of Obanikoro as George’s agent in the party responded to the crisis in the party.
In a press statement issued by the group’s National Coordinator, Mr. Hassan, at the weekend, the party elders fingered Obanikoro in the coup that led to the removal of Shelle, adding that Obanikoro wanted to hijack the party from the founding leaders of the party in the state. The group stated further that the Acting Chairman of the party, AlhajiKamaldeenOlorunoje, should stop using thugs and the police in harassing the embattled Chairman,Shelle whenever Shelle goes to the party secretariat.
The group however, asked the national leadership of the party to suspendObanikoro and the newly-appointed acting Chairman of the party, Mr.KamaldeenOlorunoje. They accused both Obanikoro and Olorunoje of engaging in anti-party activities, capable of distracting the party at the Lagos state election Petitions Tribunal.
The party’s elders and stakeholders accused Olorunoje of forcing Shelle out of the party’s secretariat, reiterating that Shelle remains the party chairman, despite his removal by the executive committee. They added that it was only after the party congress that Shelle can be removed, adding that Olorunoje is occupying the position illegally and that it is an act of brigandage which would not be tolerated by the group. The group further stressed that Obanikoro should forget about using the platform to contest governorship election in 2019, pointing out that the party would present a good candidate if the 2015 governorship candidate, Agbaje, decides not to contest.
“We want to tell Obanikoro not to think of using the PDP to contest 2019 governorship election because the party would field another sellable personality if the governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, decides not contesting anymore”, said the Concerned Elders.
“The policemen should as well not intervene into this matter because this is purely a political matter and it is an issue which the party’s constitution is clear on”, said the Concerned Elders.
While reacting to the call for the suspension of Obanikoro on telephone, a member of the state executive committee, who spoke with Hallmark, Prince AyodeleAdelaja, stated that the group has no right or power to call for the suspension of Obanikoro, adding that the call for the suspension according to the party’s constitution is in the hands of the ward members.
Adelaja further said that the coordinator of the group was never a resident or ward member of Obanikoro’s ward, mainting that his action is illegal and contrary to the stand of the party.
“It is the ward that has the right to call for suspension not a group. The call for suspension of Obanikoro by Lanre Hassan’s group is illegal and cannot hold in any form.
“Shelle was legitimately and legally removed by the executive committee. You can cross check with our party’s constitution and see the provisions concerning removal of party Chairman. It is clearly stated”, said Adelaja.
“Lanre Hassan is from Kosofe Local government and Senator Obanikoro is from Eti-Osa Local government, where in the party constitution that provides for somebody in one local government to call for suspension of a person in another local government. The call is laughable”, said Adelaja.
Speaking whether the crisis in the party would affect the party at the Tribunal, Adelaja stressed that the Tribunal is a legal body that is focused on handling election matters totally different from what is happening in the party.
“The PDP issue is a party issue and would be treated as such without affecting the case in Tribunal. We are waiting for the outcome of the Tribunal as our legal team has submitted all evidence as required”, said Adelaja.
He added that the national leadership would never act on such plea by the group, saying that the leadership can only act on a plea from the ward of Obanikoro not a group.
Analysts are of the view that the crisis facing the party at this period may not make the party to have its foot on ground quickly and to reposition ahead of 2019 general elections.
