As peace gradually returns to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the national level, the Ekiti State chapter is enveloped in a crisis over its governorship ticket for next year’s election. Prominent stalwarts are up in arms against Governor Ayodele Fayose over his alleged plan to impose a candidate on the party. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.
With less than one year to the governorship election in Ekiti State, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is sitting on a keg of gun powder, which may explode any moment from now, if not handled with tact.
It is ironical that this is happening, shortly after the party won a major battle for its soul with the July 12 verdict of the Supreme Court, which handed the control of the party to the National Caretaker Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi.
Many expected that the peace at the Wadata House (PDP National Secretariat) would spread to the state chapters, but the reverse is the case. Aggrieved party members are presently in court to resolve one leadership dispute or the other.
The August 12 non-elective National Convention held in Abuja, rather than healing fractured relations among feuding party members, further exacerbated it. Ekiti State chapter is an example.
There are intrigues in the local PDP, ahead of the 2018 governorship contest as some interest groups in the party are up in arms against Fayose who is determined to instal a successor.
Violence erupted at the Ekiti stand at the PDP National Convention where party members who were supposed to be brothers and sisters fought over an alleged attempt to force some leaders perceived to be ‘enemies’ of Governor Ayo Fayose out of the venue.
The governor allegedly ordered that those who were not wearing the “Fayose-for-President T-shirts be evicted from the Eagle Square, a development which led to physical combat among party members.
The anti-Fayose elements refused to wear the T-shirts announcing his presidential bid “because of the need to respect the party’s decision to zone the presidential ticket to the North and the vice presidential slot to Southeast/Southsouth.
It was the Abuja Convention hullabaloo that was believed to be behind the recent actions taken by the Fayose camp in a bid to cage some chieftains nursing governorship ambition.
The House of Assembly under Fayose’s firm grip initiated moves to discipline two members believed to be loyal to the Deputy Senate Minority Whip, Senator Abiodun Olujimi. The two legislators under fire are Hon. Michael Adedeji (Ekiti Southwest 2) and Hon. Ojo Ade Fajana (Ekiti East 1).
The parliament also accused Olujimi of sponsoring attack on the Speaker, Hon. Kola Oluwawole, at the National Convention, diverting constituency project to the home of Adedeji in Ogotun-Ekiti and claiming in the social media that the state legislators are in her pocket.
The duo were accused of being in “unholy alliance” with Olujimi. While Adedeji has “admitted” guilt and renounced his loyalty to Olujimi, Fajana has refused to appear before a panel set up by the House to investigate him, which shows that he is still loyal to his benefactor.
Olujimi, former House of Representatives member and former deputy governor, is a PDP governorship aspirant, an ambition Fayose is not favourably disposed to.
Another top government official that incurred Fayose’s wrath was a Commissioner in the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Dele Olugbemi, who was removed from office for his alleged loyalty to another PDP governorship aspirant, Prince Dayo Adeyeye.
Adeyeye, former Minister of State for Works, is the Publicity Secretary of the Makarfi-led PDP National Caretaker Committee. Despite Fayose’s perceived opposition to his ambition, Adeyeye has been oiling his governorship campaign machinery by setting up structures to realise his ambition.
Another former deputy governor who is a governorship aspirant, Chief Abiodun Aluko, has quit the PDP citing Fayose’s alleged dictatorial tendencies, harassment and intimidation of governorship aspirants and running the party like his personal estate.
The letter was addressed and submitted to the PDP Ward Chairman for Are/Araromi/Ayetoro in his native Ikere-Ekiti, Mr. Sulaiman Adeniyi, who wished the ex-deputy governor well in his future endeavours.
Aluko accused the governor of “rewriting the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” by issuing a guideline that aspirants who are 60 years and above in Ekiti PDP cannot contest for governor.
Fayose’s “decree” is believed to be targeted against Olujimi, Adeyeye, Aluko and others, who have clocked 60.
Although Fayose has not revealed the person to step into his shoes as the PDP candidate, speculations are rife that he is grooming his former Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Works, Mr. Kayode Oso, from Ado-Ekiti.
But, the action of the lawmakers in turning the heat on two of their members believed to be loyal to Olujimi has widened the cracks in the party and unearth what was hitherto a cold war between the governor and his ex-deputy. The content of Adedeji’s letter has stirred controversy in Ekiti political circles about the quality of lawmakers in the Assembly.
Adedeji’s letter dated 16th August, read in part:”I, Hon. Michael Adedeji, use this opportunity to say that I take responsibility for the offences for which I am accused by my colleagues.
“I regret my actions and I am prepared to appear before the committee of the House.
“Even at that, I have much respect for the institution and I won’t challenge the authority of the House on this matter. Rather, I tender an unreserved apology to the Speaker and my colleagues.”
“I hereby dissociate myself from Senator Biodun Olujimi’s claim going round on social media that I am one of the legislators loyal to her.
Such thought be perished. My loyalty is to EKHA and to our leader, Governor Ayo Fayose, who gave us the platform and opportunity to serve.
“I also plead with my colleagues to temper justice with mercy. Thank you.”
The monarch of Adedeji’s hometown, the Ologotun of Ogotun-Ekiti, who is the immediate past Chairman of the Council of Obas, Oba Samuel Oladapo Oyebade, also wrote letter, another pleading on behalf of the embattled lawmaker.
House Committee Chairman on Information, Hon. Samuel Omotoso, also accused Mrs. Olujimi of rubbishing the institution of legislature, saying the Assembly took the action to ensure sanity among its members.
Omotoso said: “In view of the above, the House at the parliamentary meeting of Wednesday, 16th of August set up a committee to investigate these allegations and report back to the House within five days, the committee was also mandated to ensure due process and fair hearing.
“The committee has today turned in its report on Hon. Michael Adedeji where after appearing before the disciplinary committee, apologised and submitted a letter taking responsibility for his action and pleaded for leniency.
“This report has been reviewed today by the House at the parliamentary and the House unanimously approved the recommendations of the disciplinary committee that Hon. Michael Adedeji, having shown remorse and penitence be pardoned as a first offender and be cautioned to be of good behavior henceforth.”
But, Mrs. Olujimi faulted the process of forcing Adedeji to admit guilt to an offence he never committed in a bid to please Fayose and also denied sponsoring any violence against the Speaker at the Abuja PDP Convention.
She said: “They are just hiding behind one finger. They are playing cheap and small boys politics, using worn out tricks. Let them try new tricks. It is because they know that I have ambition to be Governor of Ekiti State that they are doing this.
“The road in question is for the Constituency and the member of the House being attacked is not even close to me. It was the monarch of the town that picked the site. The project they are talking about now has been completed six months ago.
“So, why are they coming out with the allegation now. Can you imagine that the so called letter of apology purportedly written by the lawmaker was in the Ekiti State House of Assembly letterhead paper.
“They are already lying behind someone. They are only using the members to get at me. They should be courageous to face me and not use the members who are not even close to me.
On the allegation of sponsoring violence, she said: “Where am I sponsoring violence? They have asked people to lay ambush for me, if I come to Ekiti. Omotoso is the mole in that House being used to carry out hatchet job.”
But, the sacked SUBEB chief, Olugbemi, said he was allegedly victimised by Fayose for supporting Adeyeye, who is warming up to contest next year’s poll on the platform of the umbrella party.
Olugbemi said although no reason was given in the letter conveying his sack, he claimed he was being allegedly persecuted by the governor for backing the governorship aspiration of Adeyeye.
He said: “It is true that Governor Fayose has removed me as Commissioner in SUBEB and it is because of my support for the governorship ambition of Adeyeye. He (Fayose) thanked me in the letter for my service to the state and party (PDP) wishing me well in my future endeavour.
“Adeyeye is in PDP and I am also in PDP, he (Fayose) can’t decide for others who they will support and despite what has just happened, I will continue my support for Adeyeye because I believe in him.
“My sack from Fayose’s government won’t deter me from supporting Adeyeye because the party wants the governorship slot to go to Ekiti South and Adeyeye is from Ekiti South and that is why we are working for him.”
Olugbemi was one of the six All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers that defected to the PDP on the day Fayose was sworn in and he was “elected” as “Speaker” by five members of the Fourth Assembly who claimed to have “impeached” former Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin in November 2014.
He presided over the June 2015 when the Fifth Assembly members who are currently in office were inaugurated.
Olugbemi was later appointed a Commissioner in the House of Assembly Service Commission from where he resigned on grounds that the appointment did not befit his status. He was later appointed into SUBEB.
Aluko said Fayose’s alleged vindictive and hostile attitude as well as “illegal and unconstitutional age barrier” that anybody above the age of 60 cannot contest for any position including the governorship.
On his next political destination, Aluko said he would soon reveal the party he would join to realize his governorship ambition as soon as he concludes consultations with his supporters.
Aluko said: “The PDP of today was not the same he joined others to found in 1998″ adding that “in the PDP of today, anybody who finds himself at the top sees himself as the embodiment of the party.”
He expressed sadness that the national leadership of the PDP is “helpless” because they depend on the governors for funding a situation which makes the governors bigger than the party that brought them to power.
Aluko accused Fayose of rewriting the constitution by ‘decreeing’ that governorship aspirants in the party must be between the ages of 50 and 59, local government chairmanship candidates between 40 and 49 and councillorship candidates between 18 and 40.
He said the new guidelines set by Fayose negate the constitution and the PDP constitution which has shut him out of the race for the governorship in the umbrella party.
Aluko added: “I have been having a running battle with Fayose for about one-and-half years now and he said those who disagree with him on principle should come back and prostrate to him before they can be granted amnesty. Am I a criminal or a militant needing an amnesty?
“Fayose has said it loud and clear that there is no room for reconciliation in Ekiti that he would only work with those who are with him while those who are not with him should go to hell and with his new regulation on the ages of aspirants, I have been shut out.
“All leaders in the party are so scared that a killer squad could be sent after them; recently, Senator Biodun Olujimi complained that some unknown people are trailing her around because the governor challenged her to drop her governorship ambition and she resisted.
“The same thing is happening to Dayo Adeyeye whose governorship ambition is opposed to by the governor and the situation in PDP today is too bad that when the governor is the accuser, the complainant and the judge, who do you complain to?
“At the Abuja (PDP) National Secretariat, they see him (Fayose) as a demigod and aggrieved party members cannot get justice under that situation.
“I will rather go elsewhere rather than confronting somebody with history of violence who has no respect for human life. That is why I quit but those who are wishing to stay behind, good luck to them.”
Apparently referring to the the simmering crisis within the state chapter of the party, Fayose declared that the PDP will no longer tolerate those he referred to as “dissidents seeking the downfall of the party.”
He said the party was ready for reconciliation of aggrieved members in line with the decision reached at the non-elective National Convention held in Abuja.
Addressing delegates during the first day of reconciliation meeting of the Southwest Caucus held at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti, Fayose declared that “there is no room for anybody with one leg in and one leg out.”
Fayose said that sanctions will be meted out to those found to be disloyal expressing dismay that some party members went to court in an attempt to stop last Saturday’s convention. He assured loyal party members that they have nothing to fear as their interests would be taken care of.
Fayose said: “This exercise is a fallout of our recent non-elective national convention. The leaders have mandated us to bring on those who are ready to support our great party in the drive to chart a new way forward for the party. In doing this, we won’t give room for dissidents to frustrate us and our effort.
“Some people are claiming to be members of our party and at the same time going to court to frustrate the party. They tried unsuccessfully to stop the last convention using the court, but they failed woefully. There is no room for anybody who is one leg in and one leg out.
“It is either you are here or there. I am sure no judge would allow himself to be used as a spoiler by some filthy politicians. Sanctions will be imposed on errant members and those who are loyal party members and working for the progress of the party have nothing to fear.
Apart from these senior party figures who have taken their disagreement with Fayose to the public doman, others are planning to resist the governor’s alleged lot to impose a candidate on them.
The next few weeks will be interesting in Ekiti PDP as the primary draws nearer. Will the crisis be resolved before then or will the it continue to fester? The opposition, the electorate and other Nigerians are watching.
