Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has described the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a “family affair”, which does not require the involvement of external forces he accused of fanning the flames of discord in the party.
Adeleke said the party was ironing out its differences and would surely make a turn around by regaining its past glory.
The Osun governor, who is the Chairman of the Accommodation Sub-Committee of November 15 Ibadan convention of the party, was speaking in Abuja on Monday soon after the inaugural meeting of the committee.
He argued that whenever family members quarrelled with one another, they must find a way to resolve their disputes without the involvement of nosy outsiders.
Adeleke, who doubles as the Deputy Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) stated, “I can assure you that we are meeting and resolving our issues internally. It is a family affair.
“We do not want anyone outside to add sugar, pepper or salt to the matter; we are handling it ourselves.
“The PDP is a family, and we know how to manage our affairs.”
Despite kick-starting preparations for the convention since August 25 with the setting up of the NCOC, disagreements between the National Working Committee (NWC) and some stakeholders loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, have continued to cause distractions, including a suit filed before an Abuja Federal High Court, seeking to stop the convention.
Wike’s allies have also faulted the micro-zoning of some offices ahead of the convention and given other conditions such as the reinstatement of the South-South Zonal Committee.
Only on Sunday, petitions to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Police by the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, alleging forgery of his signature, emerged, an allegation the NWC dismissed in Abuja on Monday.
When asked to comment on the gale defections hitting the party, particularly governors, Adeleke simply blamed it on “politics”, admitting that anyone had the right to defect to another political party.
The Osun governor said while he would not deny that he had friends in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and regularly attended social events with them on invitation, he had no immediate plans to leave the PDP.
He spoke further, “I am not concerned (about defection). Anybody, whether a governor or a minister, has the right to make their own decision. That does not change anything in the PDP.
“We still have strong membership and widespread support across Nigeria. They are adults and have their reasons for leaving, but I am not worried.
“Some people say I might be planning to join the APC because I have friends there or have been seen attending their events. I’m a very civilised person. If I have friends in the APC and they invite me to a wedding or social function, I will attend. That doesn’t mean I’m joining them.
“As we speak, I am the deputy chairman of our convention, which holds on the 15th and 16th of November, and I remain a loyal member of the PDP. I also chair the accommodation sub-committee.
“The PDP does not believe in propaganda or endless talk. Many people from other parties are also defecting, that’s politics. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, but everyone has the right to do as they wish.
“Our focus is on unity, organisation and success. By God’s grace, our convention will be a great success, and the PDP will continue to grow from strength to strength. Thank you, and God bless you all.”
Credit: Nigerian Tribune