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Buruji warns PDP against use of wrong delegates for national convention

By Seye Olumide
24 November 2017   |   3:52 am
Senator Buruji Kashamu has dismissed the accusation against him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Committee (NCC) that he was responsible for the party’s defeat in...

Buruji Kashamu

•Mimiko, others emerge in Ondo

Senator Buruji Kashamu has dismissed the accusation against him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Committee (NCC) that he was responsible for the party’s defeat in the Edo and Ondo states governorship elections.

Kashamu, who represents Ogun East senatorial district on the PDP platform, spoke in response to the accusation against him by the Spokesman of the party in the media yesterday (not The Guardian), insisted that the Chairman, National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi should resign and face his political ambition instead of playing the role of a referee and a player.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Kashamu said, ‘‘my attention was drawn to the statement of Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the spokesman of the NCC, which was in reaction to my comments on the loss we suffered in the recent Anambra State governorship election as well as the preparations leading to the national convention.’’

While he dismissed Adeyeye’s comments as being laughable, the lawmaker said, “Instead of him (Adeyeye) addressing the issues of imposition, impunity and disdain for the rule of law; and drawing useful lessons, the NCC chose to chase shadows and issue empty threats.

“It is preposterous that the NCC would accuse me, a Senator on the platform of the party of bankrolling and sponsoring the conduct of parallel governorship congresses in Edo and Ondo states and thereby occasioned the loss of our party in the two states.

“It was common knowledge that the national leadership tussle was between Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, who stood their ground as the legitimate leaders of the party and accordingly performed the business of the party, including the elections that were conducted in Ondo and Edo states.

“In as much as I have never been a member of the National Working Committee (NWC), my advocacy for a political resolution of the festering crisis in the party has been public knowledge and clearly indubitable.”

He said assuming without conceding that the NCC’s allegation against me was correct “did I also bankroll and sponsor a parallel congress in Anambra where our party came a distant and dismal third? Was I also responsible for the imposition and poor management of the post-primary election crisis?

“The fact of the matter was that two leaders of our party were fighting for the national leadership of our party and I engaged and supported both of them in my own little way while also appealing to our eminent leaders and elders to resolve the impasse amicably.

However, the Supreme Court delivered a judgment that resolved the leadership tussle but not the crises.”

Making reference to the Supreme Court judgment of July 12 2017 and how he immediately issued a press statement to congratulate the Makarfi-led NCC, Kashamu said, “As a firm believer in the Rule of Law, I am bound to respect the decision of the final court in the land, no matter the reservations.”

While saying that it was the party that won the judgment and not individual, Kashamu lamented that instead of the leadership to continue to build the party on the part of genuine reconciliation “what did we see afterwards, queries, discrimination, dissolution of validly elected state executives, supplanting them with handpicked lackeys and threats of suspension and expulsion by an interim non-elected caretaker committee. Thankfully, we are back in court over all the illegal dissolution and all other sundry issues. It is hoped that since reason has failed to prevail, the court will resolve all the issues in the same way and manner it resolved the national leadership tussle.”

The federal lawmaker from Ogun said the implication of taking wrong delegates from the Southwest to the national convention might be disastrous, adding, “It is possible many stakeholders from the region may defect in mass to another party, which will spell doom for the PDP.”

He also cautioned the factional executive leader of the Southwest, Mr. Eddy Olafeso to respect the rule of law or be ready to face the wrath of the law.

On the activities of Governors Nyesom Wike and Ayodele Fayose, the lawmaker said it is not possible for the duo to singlehandedly determine who becomes the national chairman of the party, as their actions seem to have indicated and that any attempt aimed at depriving Southwest from producing the national chairman, the position it has not occupied since the PDP was established in 1998 would be resisted.”

Meanwhile, former governor of Ondo state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and his Chief of staff, Chief Kola Ademujimi have emerged as the national delegates representing the Ondo West and Idanre local government area respectively, to December 9 national convention.

The election, which was conducted under peaceful atmosphere, was witnessed by the former commissioner for Information in the state, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, Taye Akinyele and the former chairman of the local government, Mr. Marcus Adeoti.

Speaking after the election, Ademujimi commended the delegates for their display of maturity and sense of duty during the election.

He promised to give quality representation to the people at the National Convention coming up in December saying there is no victor or vanquish in the election.

Other delegates from the state include, gubernatorial candidate in the 2016 governorship election in the state, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, representing Akure South, Ibukun Lawrence representing Ifedore local government area and John Ola Mafo, from Ilaje and Eni Akinsola representing Okitipupa local government.

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