Oyo PDP chides deputy governor over refusal to defend allegations

• Says Olaniyan’s decision to sue lawmakers executive rascality
• Promises defectors from APC equal rights, and opportunities

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, yesterday, berated the Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan, over his refusal to clear his name of allegations of financial impropriety, abandonment of office, among others, levelled against him by the Assembly.

According to a statement by the PDP state Publicity Secretary, Akeem Olatunji, the party said instead of clearing his name from the allegations, Olaniyan had resorted to approaching the court to restrain the lawmakers from performing their constitutional functions, saying such action violates every atom of the Yoruba ‘Omoluabi’ ethos.

The party, however, praised the state House of Assembly over its directive to the state Chief Judge, Justice Munta Abimbola, to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations levelled against the deputy governor, describing it as the right move in the right direction.

It said the move by the Adebo Ogundoyin-led House of Assembly indicates that the legislative arm had risen in defence of democracy and performing its statutory legislative duty as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

The PDP maintained that as an educated individual who rose through the ranks until retirement while in the state civil service, Olaniyan should know better than the House of Assembly is constitutionally empowered and duty-bound in the interest of the general public to investigate any public office holder, institution or government parastatal when the need arises.

The ruling party, therefore, described the act as a clear show of disrespect for the legislative arm of government, which the party said, was nothing short of an abuse of office.

Meanwhile, the ruling party, which welcomed and commended defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the PDP, promised that both new entrants and old party members would have equal rights and access to opportunities.