Analysing the peace moves by the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to reconcile the factions in the Lagos state chapter of the party, TOPE MUSOWO wonders if the PDP will be a cohesive body once again
Instruction to BOT Following the lingering leadership crisis in the Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) largely caused by who controls the party between Otunba Segun Adewale and Hon. Moshood Salvador, the National Caretaker Committee, through its Secretary, Sen. Ben Obi, has ordered that the Secretariat be handed over to Chief Bode George and other members of the party’s Board of Trustees in the state.
Th is was contained in a letter to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, and signed by the Secretary, National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ben Obi. Th e letter titled “Re: PDP Secretariat in Lagos State” reads : Th e attention of the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to the occupation of the PDP Secretariat at NO. 56 Adekunle Fajuyi Crescent GRA, Ikeja, Lagos by a group. Th e letter continues: “To avoid negative consequences that may arise from the tussle for the secretariat, and in keeping with Section 32(5)(e) of the PDP constitution (2012 as amended) which states that the Board of Trustees shall “be vested with the assets of the party and shall serve as custodians of such assets”, the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) hereby requests that you hand over the secretariat to Chief Bode George and other members of PDP Board of Trustees ( BOT) in Lagos State” Adewale’s Reaction Meanwhile, Segun Adewale who addressed newsmen at the party secretariat as he moved out his personal belongings in compliance with the letter said, “I am going to hand over the key to the BOT as instructed in the letter, if Chief Bode George like he gives me the key back or whoever he wants, as you can see me packing out my things I am going to drop the key now.”
Adewale however instructed all his supporters to stay away from the secretariat for the sake of peace in the party even if the key is given to someone else. Expressing his mind on the new development ,he noted that, “it is quite unfortunate that people who as at last week Saturday were still campaigning against PDP while in Labour Party now want to take over the secretariat, meanwhile, I was the one mobilising for the party (PDP) during the LG poll on Saturday”. “Even at that, I am ready to leave the secretariat, the Police asked us to sign an undertaking that there will be peace in Ikeja, fi ne, I am not fi ghting with anybody because if we continue this way we will continue to loose elections in Lagos.
But the only problem is that Bode George always believes Lagos PDP is his birthright “ Adewale said. The Lingering Crisis It will be recalled that since last year, crisis has been rocking the party over who is the authentic state chairman of the party, between Adewale and Salvador which led to the Salvador’s faction defecting to the Labour Party to contest in the recently concluded local government elections in Lagos. Political analysts argued that the crisis if not well managed by the National Caretaker Committee may lead to the failure of the party to win in 2019 general elections in the state as aggrieved members may mobilise against the interest of the party at the polls. Just last week aggrieved members of the party cried out accusing Bode George and Salvadoor of disrupting peace in the party despite intervention of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police. A statement by Segun Adewale said,” following the Supreme Court Judgment affi rming Sen Ahmed Markafi as the authentic leader of the party, the State Exco under the elected leadership of Otunba Segun Adewale was not disbanded. Why? Th e leadership tussle resolved by the Apex court was between Ali Modu Sherrif and Ahmed Markafi not Lagos State. Owoseni had instructed all aggrieved factions to maintain status quo until Chief Bode George or Moshood Salvador produces a letter from the National Headquarters or a court order as regards who should occupy the Party’s secretariat in Lagos”. Alleged Labour Party/PDP Alliance for LG Polls Th e statement reads in part, “In clear disregard to the Police Commissioner’s instructions, Chief Bode George today contravened the undertaken signed by Salvador and mobilized more than 100 hoodlums to forcefully take over the State Secretariat putting lives and properties of innocent citizens at risk. Th is attempt was however resisted by loyal members of the PDP present at the secretariat.
Our expectation is Chief Bode George should act as a leader and calls for true reconciliation of all aggrieved members in the State not this futile venture he started today”. Adewale added that, “after taking PDP members to Labour Party in the just concluded LG elections and having failed woefully with complete humiliation from the ruling party APC in the state with a thrashing of 57-0 Labour, Chief Bode George now has the audacity or eff rontery to send hoodlums to take over the same Secretariat of PDP he campaigned against all over the media before the election. “
It is shameful to see a man of Bode George age not knowing the right from the wrong. We also pity his blind followers who are either not smart upstairs or lack inner will to reject a failure like Bode George. He maintained that Bode George was an APC mole in the party. His words:, “Until the National Headquarters of our party puts Chief Bode George, an APC mole within our party, to where he belongs, our winning election in this State will be a pipe dream. It should be placed on record that Lagos State remains the only State in Nigeria that has never had PDP as governor, or senator. Th e only few House of Representatives elected after 2015 elections were from Lagos West Senatorial district. Chief Bode George and Hon. Salvadoor have no electoral values”. Following this development the question is will Lagos PDP be united and strong once again?
