A leadership crisis is threatening the unity of the Akinyele chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has taken a dramatic twist as Mr. Dauda Tijani is claiming to be the Party’s Chairman of Ward 8 in the Local Government.
Alhaji Dauda dumped the party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in 2017 with his leader, Asiwaju Yemi Aderibibe, before returning to the PDP after the inauguration of Governor Seyi Makinde in 2019.
The largest ward in Akinyele has been battling with a leadership crisis since the pronouncement of Seyi Makinde that all former executive members of the party at ward level should be returned to their positions.
Comrade Jimoh Isiaka, the party’s chairman, who took over from Dauda after he defected to ADC, dismissed the purported directive which he said emanated from Dauda’s camp, claiming that his reinstatement is not “in strict accord with some sections of PDP Constitution.
Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on Local Government and chieftaincy Matters, Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe, had a few things to say. He reported that Governor Seyi Makinde issued the directive. His words:
“We were in a meeting with the Governor; it was at that meeting that His Excellency as the leader of the party issued a directive that all former executive members of the party who had returned to the party be reinstated to their former positions since they emerged through a constitutional congress and that no congress was conducted since 2017.”
“We came back from the meeting, and we are trying to effect the Governor’s directive, and those who are not comfortable with the directive are the ones fomenting trouble in the party.”
“In a matter of days, circular will be issued by the state working committee of the party in compliance with the Governor’s directive. If by tomorrow, the Governor changes his position on the matter, everyone will comply. Governor Makinde is our leader; whatever he says is what we will comply with.”
Aderibigbe was called to defend the reality of him being a serial defector. He is only trying to hijack the party’s structure; he said, “when we were rebuilding the party in 2017, I was the caretaker coordinator for Akinyele, Governor Makinde then as an aspirant was the coordinator for Ibadan Southwest while Oloye Sarafadeen Alli was the coordinator for Ibadan North. I ask, where were those people who are calling me names. Why were they not saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the party? During the first election in 2019, when I contested for Akinyele/ Lagelu Federal constituency, I came first in Akinyele, APC came second, while the PDP came third. We know our strengths. This party belongs to the people and must be returned to the people. The Governor’s mission is for the party to be rebuilt, and everyone must queue behind what the Governor wants for the party.”
Hon Aderibigbe said it is not criminal to approve an aspirant for an elective position. He emphasized that it is a normal tradition in politics to name someone.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, Hon Kunle Yusuff, reacted to the rumour that Governor Makinde has issued a directive reinstating the former chairman. He said the former chairman and his cohorts had become the figment of their imagination. His words:
“Let me set the record straight, truly the Governor called us into a meeting, he appealed that those that left the party before the 2019 general elections and returned after the election should be accommodated. Excellency said if their former positions had occupied, he promised to seek other means of compensating them.”
“At no point did the Governor say the former ward eight chairman be reinstated. Can anyone challenge the directive of our principal and leader? They misconceived the statement and intent hook, line, and sinker.”
“I can tell you boldly that there is no crisis whatsoever in our party. We need to sound a note of warning to those trying to cause crisis or disunity in the party to desist from such act.”
“With the type of Governor we have at the helm of affairs in the state, and the party, the politics of “jagba” ( forceful take over), intimidation, and threat are over in a repositioned Oyo PDP. We have been financing the party at Akinyele and Lagelu Federal Constituency from 2011 to date. We have not relented. We can not just fold our arms and allow few selfish individuals to ruin our gains for their interest. We don’t preach violence; the dialogue is better than confrontation.
“I challenge the former chairman and his allies to present the circular to the directive attributed to the Governor reinstating him to his former position. Let me tell you, don’t forget that they sponsored candidates against our party’s candidates for the House of Assembly. Their candidates recorded some votes, but because we were deeply rooted, our candidates emerged victoriously. We know their political antecedent. It is not new for us.”
Hon Ayotunde Fatokun, the lawmaker representing Akinyele Constituency 1, also reacted to the issue, saying the party leader in the Southwest and Oyo State, His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde, didn’t make such pronouncement. The Chairman Parliamentary Council says:
“The Governor didn’t say it. We didn’t hear it from him, and there’s no official document to back it up.
It is out of place and against the constitution of the party.
“Sincerely, they supported Seyi Makinde and still fronted their Assembly candidate, Ranti Babalola, against me, and to the glory of God, I won him flawlessly.
“So, we went to the polls with each party fronting its candidates. Alas, God gave PDP to victory.”
“ADC did coalition at the state level with Governor Seyi Makinde and not with the party at the local level to support Oyo House of Assembly candidates.”
Equally, Hon Kazeem Adekunle of Akinyele South LCDA and Hon Taoreed Jimoh, the two leading aspirants for the 2021 local government polls, rejected the assertions by Dauda Tijani and Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe that the Governor made a pronouncement reinstating the former chairman of ward 8 to his position.
In the words of Hon Kazeem Adekunle, at no point did I enter into any agreement with any leader to sack the current executives in ward eight, which is the largest voting strength in Akinyele.
“What we are asking them to tender is circular to support their claim that the Governor asked them to return to their positions.”
“Don’t forget some people have been running the affairs of the party when they left. We are law-abiding party members. We will accommodate them but not to return to their previous positions.”
”If they are interested in running the affairs of our party, they should wait for another ward congress to test their popularity.”
Taoreed Jimoh said: “who does that, Dauda Tijani’s position is illegitimate. People like us have remained loyal to this party. I, in particular, have never left the PDP. We won’t allow meddlesome interlopers to cause disunity in our party.”
“All we are after in our party is how to support our principal, Governor Seyi Makinde, to succeed and deliver on his campaign promises.”
On a strange occurrence, the two opposing camps have chosen the same venue and time for their meeting today. Below is their press statements.
“Notice of meeting;
This is to announce to the entire PDP member of ward eight that there will be a ward eight meeting by tomorrow, Wednesday 6th of Jan. 2021.
Venue: HLA primary school
Time: 4 p.m
Pls, invite others that are not on the platform as Germain issues will be discussed and trash out.
Pls be punctual
Signed
Alfa Jimoh Isiaka
Ward 08 chairman.”
“Notice! Notice!! Notice!!! This is to inform the entire Akinyele local government ward eight home and abroad that there will be a ward meeting tomorrow.
Thanks for your prompt attendance.
Venue: HLA primary school,
Time: 4pm
Signed: Alhaji Dauda Tijani,
Ward eight Chairman”