By: Ade Phillips
A political group within the opposition party, Council of Young Leaders in People’s Democratic Party (CYLI-PDP) has thrown its weight behind the suspension of the Chairman of the party in Ondo State, Fatai Adams.
Starnews NG reports that Adams was on Tuesday suspended over alleged anti-party activities.
The suspension has since caused conflict and sparked a clash of opinions between the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and the state executives of the party.
Ologunagba in a statement on behalf of the National Working Committee (NWC) dismissed the suspension, declaring it null and void, emphasizing that the state committee lacked the authority to suspend the chairman without recourse to the national body.
In a retaliatory move, the Ondo State Chapter of the PDP defended the suspension, asserting that according to the party’s constitution, all levels possess the power to discipline erring members within their ranks, including the State Chairman.
They highlighted that nine out of eleven SWC members signed the suspension letter, signaling a lack of confidence in Adams’ leadership.
They insisted that the suspension of the state chairman has come to stay.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, the group, through his Coordinator, Wande Ajayi, lamented the lackadaisical attitude and ineffectiveness of the Fatai Adams as the party state Chairman.
“The Council of Young Leaders in People’s Democratic Party (CYLI-PDP) received with joy the long overdue news of the suspension of the State Chairman of Ondo State Chapter of the Party, Alhaji Fatai Adams by nine out of the eleven man State Working Committee (SWC) over anti-party allegations. This news brings respite, hope and believe back to the Party after the truncation of the ignominious reign of the suspended Chairman.
“The actions of the 9 SWC members is just, fair and has the support of majority of Party faithfuls who could barely do anything as they watch Fatai Adams sell our Party to the highest bidder. Ondo PDP Youths are firmly with the SWC and will do everything humanly possible to defend their actions as regards the suspension.
“For a long while, we have, as an organization that’s committed to seeing the PDP retake Ondo State, complained about the lackadaisical attitude of Alhaji Adams to the unity and progress of the Party. More than once, we met him and other members of the SWC to demand for action that we never got. It was very obvious to us that Alhaji Fatai Adams is only interested in his pocket and is a good example of those who have seen every season as a cashout season.
“We have complained, quite bitterly, about the ineffectiveness of Alhaji Adams and his commitment to ensuring victory for the Party. His biasness as State Chairman had caused a whole lot of people who are interested in joining the Party or members who are willing to invest in the Party to have a rethink. We are sure that now that he’s gone for good, a breathe of fresh air will envelop the Party as Ondo State people are patiently waiting for us to get it right, as their only hope of escaping from the shackles of misrule and redundancy that the APC led Ondo State Government has pushed us.
“We read the published rebuttal from Fatai Adams where he alleged that his suspension has something to do with next month’s Akoko North Federal Constituency bye election. One wonders what magic someone who led us to 95% failure in all elections conducted under him wants to do. He actually thinks we don’t know who pays the piper, dictates the tune. Alh. Adams should be considerate to just leave with what he’s used the Party to achieve these past few years and not aim to make that final cashout.
“For the records, Alhaji Adams inherited a flourishing Ondo PDP from his successor but allowed his unbridled lust for pecuniary gains and overt loyalty to individuals, mostly outside the Party, to impact the Chapter. Under his watch, we went from 2 senators, 4 House of Representatives seats to not a single senator and a lone House of Reps seat.
“Meanwhile, we read with consternation the supposed rebuttal issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba. While we will not like to drag the NWC into this, Debo Ologunagba, being from Ondo State, ought to know more than some of us about the atrocious actions of Fatai Adams that necessitated his suspension by his own executives but we are also aware the same source sponsoring Fatai Adams docility also has Debo Ologunagba on its payroll. The hasty rebuttal from Barr. Ologunagba only confirms our fears. It is trite to note that aside Wadata, everyone in Ondo PDP is happy with the suspension.
“Conclusively, CYLI will like to thank the brave SWC members for putting the Party first and calls on all stakeholders, leaders, members and executives of the Party to give them necessary support as we chart a path that leads to ultimate victory. On our part, we will continue to pursue peace and unity as we know only that can make PDP great in PDP again,” the statement read.
Leave a Reply