OGUN PDP PRESS STATEMENT 16/07/2016

PURPORTED AUTHORISATION LETTER FROM AHMED MAKARFI-LED NATIONAL CARETAKER COMMITTEE TO OGSIEC: SIKIRULAI OGUNDELE AND HIS PAYMASTERS ARE ON A MACABRE DANCE

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State under the progressive leadership of Engr. Adebayo Dayo has taken cognizance of a letter dated 4th July, 2016, ‘purportedly written and signed’ by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of our party and addressed to the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) to the effect that, the commission should accept the list of our party's candidates for the forthcoming local government elections from a certain Sikirulai Ogundele, a self-appointed chairman of Ogun PDP.

While we became aware of the said letter few days ago and was actually displayed on the social media by the agents of destabilization yesterday, we refrained from reacting to it because we wanted to ascertain its authenticity; as these felons are indeed capable of any subterfuge. If we recall, the same Ogundele and his fellow outlaws are still standing trial for burglary of the state secretariat and stealing of vital documents. Therefore, if their antecedent is anything to go buy, their capacity for mischief is never in doubt.

However, we were again inundated with an advertorial in page 8 of today’s Tribune newspaper, wherein the same letter to OGSIEC and another letter to INEC, were displayed for the public and signed by same Sikirulai Ogundele. We therefore feel compelled to make a few clarifications so that members of our party and the unsuspecting public would not be deceived by the elaborate shenanigans of this brigand and his paymasters.

It is laughable that ever since they tried to contrive a parallel executive (unsuccessfully though), this man has never been confident to publicly call himself the state chairman of Ogun PDP save on Whatsapp groups; but this latest gambit from them has given him the audacity to even append his name on a paid newspaper advertorial. He can be assured that he will face the consequence of that contemptuous act. Notwithstanding, certain issues becomes fundamental to point out and expose the malfeasance of this man and his puppeteers.

Let it be stated for the umpteenth time that, there are not two state executives in Ogun state. Prior to the congresses that ushered in the current executives at all levels, there exists a valid judgment and another interlocutory order of the Federal High Courts which empowered the Adebayo Dayo executive to conduct the congress that will birth a new executive. That in hand, the Mohammed El-Yaqubu congress committee sent from the party headquarters worked in line with these orders and supervised the emergence of all executives from the ward, local government and state as led by Engr. Adebayo Dayo.

After the congresses, there are full reports of all security agencies and certified True Copies of INEC status report that validated all the congresses. There is also a valid judgment of the FHC that reaffirmed the authenticity of the congresses and ruled that our executive shall exist till April 2020, acting on behalf of the party in all circumstances and on all matters. More importantly, the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that held before the acrimonious Portharcourt convention examined and ratified the congresses in 29 states (Ogun state inclusive) and only seven states had issues for which NEC ordered that they be rerun at later dates. It is pertinent to note that Engr. Adebayo Dayo attended that meeting as Ogun PDP state chairman; and there was no other person there with same title. Where was the Sikirulai Ogundele on that day?

These same person and his cohorts exhibited their now-famous penchant for forgery when they (in collaboration with certain powerful personalities in Portharcourt) doctored the convention programme, superimposing their illegal names on legitimate names of Ogun PDP delegates. They also infamously highjacked the tags means for legitimates delegates and surreptitiously gained entrance to the convention ground with it. We are therefore not surprised that they have come up with these letters just to bear the toga of legitimacy, but they forget that no matter how a pig is dressed in expensive apparel, its natural place of abode still remains the mud.

On the forthcoming local government election in Ogun state, it is important to note that there is no role for the National Working Committee as enshrined in the party’s constitution, talk less of a caretaker committee. In chapter VIII, Article 50 (10a) of the party laws, it unequivocally states in parts that, “for members aspiring for nomination for election to the post of Councilors, Local Government Council Chairmen or membership, the deciding authority shall be the State Executive Committee”. Consequently, the national leadership lacks the power to expressly write OGSIEC directing it to collect list from an impostor; when in actuality, a valid state executive by its inherent powers will naturally do so, without resorting to help from above. By inference, Ogundele and his bosses, lacking in legitimacy had to run to a contentious caretaker committee to seek powers it does not have. How farcical and desperate can a people become?

Moreover, our checks in the last 24 hours indicated that the caretaker committee was misled to write such a ridiculous letter and it was done in the midst of the acrimony and power tussle in the national leadership at the time. That was even before the momentous events of two days ago when a truce was reached and gladiators resolved to work together. One of the major resolutions of the ceasefire was that all decisions reached as at the last NEC meeting before the Portharcourt debacle remains sacrosanct including congresses; which by inference makes the Adebayo Dayo executive a ‘fait accompli’ on Ogun PDP and all well-meaning party faithful must align and work with it for progress.

Furthermore, the caretaker committee by its mandate will only midwife a new convention and initiate reconciliation process. Its mandate does not include dabbling into issues that predates its existence. Even in his press briefing two days ago, Ahmed Markarfi, mindful of the limitation of his committee said two major things. He announced an August 17th 2016 date for the new convention and also announced a national reconciliation committee headed by the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu. He further went to salute Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff for being conciliatory and also praised Sen. Buruji Kashamu for his commendable role in achieving the peace process. In all of these, where was Sikirulai and his godfather?

The Peace terms agreed by the active southwest leaders such as Governors Olusegun Mimiko, Ayodele Fayose and Senator Buruji Kashamu is clear: All executives in their respective States should be left intact while Oyo, Osun and Lagos states be harmonised. We have already reached out to the Markafi committee over the strange letter and it will soon be redressed.

Additionally, it is the height of self-delusion and hallucinations for Ogundele and his sponsors to revel in a purchased but worthless piece of letter that cannot pass the integrity test of our party constitution and neither can it pass the test of judicial inquest. That they even put up paid advert in the national daily showcases their nervousness and infantile phantasm. We urge all members of our party to disregard the poisonous letter as being of no effect, insignificant null and void. OGSIEC and INEC have been served the necessary papers and we also have the necessary correspondence from them. At the appropriate time when list of candidates will indeed be submitted, the tomfoolery of Sikirulai Ogundele and his backers shall be exposed to the world. For now they can continue clowning around and doing the macabre dance.

Finally, the screening of aspirants for councillorship and chairmanship positions for the forthcoming local election continues on Monday 18th July 2016 at the party secretariat, Abeokuta. That will be the last day so we implore those that have not done the screening to make themselves available that day. Our party remains on course to record success in that election and all hands must be on deck to achieve this.

(Signed)
Bolaji Adeniji
State Publicity Secretary, Ogun PDP