By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The lingering crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state assumed a new twist on Tuesday as the Engineer Seyi Makinde faction of the party accused the party’s state Chairman, Alhaji Omokunmi Mustapha of being mischievous on the recent harmonization of the Oyo State PDP executive council by the National Secretariat in Abuja.
Also, the Engineer Seyi Makinde faction of Oyo PDP passed vote of confidence on the party’s South West Zonal Chairman, Dr Eddy Olafeso.
Addressing a press conference on behalf of the faction, the former Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Hosea Ayoola Agboola accused Alhaji Mustapha of feeding the public addressed by Alh. Kunmi Mustapha ” with half truths, outright misrepresentation and wishful thinking” during a press conference addressed by him (Alhaji Mustapha) in Ibadan on Monday.
Specifically, Senator Agboola berated the Oyo PDP Chairman for allegedly attempting to ” wish away the Harmonisation of the Oyo state exco which was in the first place the template submitted for the resolution of the Congresses which were separately held in Ibadan last year, and which was subsequently acceded to at a meeting jointly attended by leaders of both factions at the party’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday February 20.”
“It is a notorious fact that the Press conference purportedly held yesterday and addressed by Alh. Kunmi Mustapha was filled with half truths, outright misrepresentation and wishful thinking. It is unfortunate that this factional group would wish away the Harmonisation of the Oyo state exco which was in the first place the template submitted for the resolution of the Congresses which were separately held in Ibadan last year, and which was subsequently acceded to at a meeting jointly attended by leaders of both factions at the party’s headquarters in Abuja on tuesday February 20.” he said
According to Senator Agboola “it s therefore a big shock and very embarrassing to watch as the Kunmi Mustapha group continue to engage the media in order to reverse a decision taken in the presence and with the knowledge of the National Chairman of our great party and other members of his executive.” saying, ” accusing the Zonal Chairman South West, Chief Eddy Olafeso of connivance and passing a vote of no confidence on him is as strange as it is unfair, It would appear that they are merely looking for a scape goat.”
“With all the emphasis at our disposal and the unity of purpose as exhibited by the Abuja declaration, we hereby pass a vote of confidence on the Zonal Chairman and admonish him to continue with his good work knowing fully well that he equally enjoys the backing of the national leadership. We also rebuke the Kunmi Mustapha faction for openly criticising the National body for performing its legitimate function.”
Senator Agboola while stressing that it was not the intention of the Engineer Makinde’s faction of the party “to rake up old wounds since the issue of harmonisation has been effectively resolved in a just and fair manner,” added ” but we are not unaware of the machination of the Kunmi Mustapha faction when it mischievously included the Labour Party, whose leader declined to join our party and Alliance for Democracy that was practically non existent by sharing offices among them as bargaining chips in order to have more officers.”
“We are unsure of the mindset of Kunmi Mustapha and his group when he said that he felt personally insulted by the invitation of the National Chairman that five representatives each should report in Abuja to resolve the issue. Is he saying that the National Chairman has no right to invite party members to the headquarters for consultation? adding that ” the
truth of the matter is that majority of party members are satisfied with the decision to fairly harmonise the state exco and give kudos for the painstaking manner it has resolved the issue so that the party can move forward and face the challenges of the coming elections in Oyo state.”
Speaking further, Senator Agboola disclosed that ” the issue of harmonised state Exco was inherited from The National Executive Committee headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi which is in public domain in his interview published by the Nation Newspaper of TODAY Tuesday February 27, 2018 page 32, titled “PDP will Reconcile before 2019” while answering fourth question, Senator Ahmed Makarfi was quoted on the issue of Oyo state as saying “In Oyo state, the Party is harmonised since Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Seyi Makinde came in. Of course they have their differences at Congress but they too have agreed to harmonise where they have differences at congress”Said the former Governor of Kaduna State.”
” This press conference is addressed to put the record straight and to emphasis the need to embrace peaceful resolution that will bring about all-inclusive and vibrant party that will change the political landscape of Oyo state in 2019 with our votes at the polls.”
