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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ado-Odo/Ota local government of Ogun State may witness an implosion which may snowball into a catastrophic crisis that will affect the fortunes of the party in preparation for the 2019 general elections.
We learnt that the leadership of the PDP in the local government which is regarded as very strategic to win election in the state owing to its population and cosmopolitan nature is at each other’s throat over allegations of just three leaders’ penchant for taking decision for the entire local government without consulting other leaders of the party structure in the area.
There had been widespread grumbling and dissatisfaction over the style of leadership of the collegiate chairman of the PDP in Ado-Odo/Ota local government, Chief Alani Akinde and it eventually came to a boiling point on Wednesday when a collegiate meeting of the party was called.
While the collegiate meeting was to be held in Chief Akinde’s residence, some leaders of the party led by a former local government chairman, Chief Abayomi Tella and a prominent financier cum mobiliser of the party, Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle (aka Banana) also called a parallel collegiate meeting at the party secretariat along Idiroko road, where a new collegiate chairman, Alhaji Fatai Alagbe was elected thereby polarizing the party structure.
Findings revealed that Chief Abayomi Tella who is a member of the South West executive of the PDP and Alhaji Adekunle Mustapha’s among other leaders like Elder Oke, Chief Adigun Oloyede, Hon Oluwole Abdulahi, Alhaja Nike Odutola, Alhaji Rafiu Omolade, Hon Sunday Ogunleye and a host of others decided to factionalize the collegiate leadership to protest Chief Akinde’s leadership style of imposition without consultation.
Interestingly, we gathered that the collegiate meeting held at the party secretariat had in attendance prominent leaders of the party across the 16 wards of the local government while the one held at Chief Akinde’s house was described as ‘scanty’.
Newsheadline247 understands that the break-away faction which also has an influential member of the party, Chief Femi Obanla is irked with other two members of the Chief Akinde-led group; Hon Waliu Taiwo and Hon Semiu Babatunde.
A leader in the Abayomi Tella side who craved anonymity gave us an insight into the grouse of the group thus: ‘’ Chief Akinde and Hon Semiu Bbatunde are the main culprit here. Though Hon Waliu Taiwo is a bit diplomatic in his own approach, but the brazen display of leadership arrogance by Chief Akinde and Hon. Semiu Babatunde is tearing the party apart and we can not achieve success with it. Anytime the party leadership in the State directs the local governments to take a decision, it is always between these three people, leaving out other leaders.
‘’For example, a directive came from the state that the members of leaders that will be attending the apex meeting of the party be expanded to accommodate other interests, can you believe that Chief Akinde just summoned Hon Waliu Taiwo and Semiu Babatunde and drew up the list without consulting other leaders. How can a name be submitted from Chief Tella’s constituency without him knowing about it, and many more like that.
“We have decided not to be having any party meetings in Chief Akinde’s house again. We have a party secretariat, let all decisions be made in the secretariat. Look at what happened during the last Sallah celebration, Hon Ladi Adebutu sent six rams to the local government, one was meant to be sent to the prayer ground while remaining five be shared among members. I can tell you that these three leaders took one ram each and the remaining two just disappeared. It’s not as if one doesn’t have money to buy ram, but things must be done transparently. Let us all take a decision, not that three people will decide for the multitude. It is unacceptable. Anything anybody wants to give us must be routed through the party secretariat and not any leader’s house.” The source narrated.
Meanwhile, we further gathered that while the collegiate meeting of the Abayomi Tella and Mustapha Adekunle was ongoing, information got to Hon Waliu Taiwo about the crisis and he immediately raced to the party secretariat to meet with the group.
“Yes, Hon Waliu Taiwo came to meet us, we respect him for that gut, we have tabled our demand for him and we are waiting to see what the outcome of his intervention would be”. Our Source stated.
When contacted, Chief Abayomi Tella confirmed that a separate collegiate meeting was held at the party secretariat, “we are all stakeholders in this PDP project. Our major concern is to win the 2019 elections. There is no crisis in our party and we respect our leaders, but due process must be followed and every member of our party must be given a sense of belonging” He said.
