WHY OGUN PDP CARETAKER COMMITTEE CAN’T STAND BY SENATOR BURUJI KASHAMU

My attention has been drawn to the news of the purported inauguration of a Caretaker Committee for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC) and I wish to react as follows:

1. That the action of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led NCC which derives its legitimacy from the court is not only an affront on the peace-loving leaders and members of our party in Ogun State but a most devastating slap on the judiciary.

2. Apart from being a travesty of justice, the Caretaker Committee is one-sided and made up of ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel’s nominees with the exception of the Chairman. How then could these people be talking of reconciliation and harmonization? Clearly, they are liars and deceivers.

3. Having emerged from validly organized congress which was ratified by the 71st National Executive Committee (NEC), the NCC is aware of the valid and subsisting judgment in favour of the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led State Executive Committee of the PDP in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/636/2016 which is yet to be appealed, set aside or upturned, yet it chose to continue on the path of impunity and lawlessness. I do not see how these people can reposition the party. They want to compound its problems.

4. The Ogun State PDP Executive under the leadership of Engr. Adebayo Dayo has binding court judgment and orders legitimizing it as the duly and validly elected State Executive until 2020. This clearly allows the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led executive to remain in office and carry out all its due responsibilities and functions.

5. The mere fact that the National Convention has the powers to dissolve itself or even the party does not give anyone the powers to brush aside valid and subsisting court judgment.

6. The latest order, which was made on the 10th of August, 2017 but received and signed for by the Legal Department on Friday, 11th August, 2017 – a day to the National Convention – is binding on the PDP.

7. It is therefore surprising that the NCC and other organs of the party which are products of the law could encourage illegality and impunity. The fact that they could act in deviance of two subsisting court orders and judgment makes all the decisions taken since the August 12th, 2017 National Convention illegal, null and void.

8. Since the NCC believes in impunity and illegalities, it can continue on the path of ignominy while we continue on the path of the civility and the Rule of Law. At the end of the day, we shall see who would laugh last.

9. From the foregoing, it is safe to say that with or without the recognition of the National Caretaker Committee, the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State PDP Exco will remain in office till 2020. The purported inauguration of the Caretaker Committee for Ogun State cannot stand. It is dead on arrival.

10. I wish to urge all my leaders, elders and supporters to remain calm. Let us continue with our mobilization into the party and reposition ourselves for the challenges ahead. Our detractors are fighting a lost battle. As in the past, all their plots will fail – and abysmally too. We are prepared to test this case up to the Supreme Court and we trust that justice will be done because you cannot build something on nothing.

Signed
Senator Buruji Kashamu
Ogun East Senatorial District
23.08.17