'PDP Caucus Meeting Not Deadlocked'
From Tunde Sanni in Ilorin
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Alhaji Zubair Abubakar, has clarified that penultimate weekend caucus meeting held in Ilorin was not deadlocked
Zubair, in a press statement issued, confirmed that the trio of Alhaji Muhammad Shaaba Lafiagi, Deacon John Dara and Alhaji Yekini Alabi, all former gubernatorial walked out of the meeting, explaining that the attendance of the duo of Dara and Alabi was at the instance of the state Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, while Lafiagi, according to the party constitution, was the only bonafide member of the state party caucus
"Deacon John Dara and Alhaji Yekini Alabi attended as a gesture of goodwill and the desire of the party to carry everybody along," adding that "it was decided that the caucus had to be enlarged to bring about better representative participation," the statement said.
His words: "In order to achieve this objective, the Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki went out of his way to call almost everyone on phone to ensure their attendance and create mutual understanding and appreciation."
The party chairman confirmed that the caucus meeting attention was drawn to the conspicuous absence of "some people" including distinguished members like the vice chairman of the party, the deputy governor of the state and other."
He pointed out that members at the meeting were urged to make sure that any decision reached was passed on to those that were absent. "It was at this point that Alhaji Shaaba, Deacon Dara and Chief Yekini Alabi left. The chairman and Alhaji L.A.K. Jimoh followed them to Alhaji Shaaba house to persuade them to return to the meeting," he noted.
Zubair added that they were both shocked to discover a huge crowd of PDP and ANPP members waiting in his house, saying "there and then it dawned on us that it was a masterplan to disorganise the meeting."
The party chairman maintained that Jimoh, Alhaji Folorunsho and Alhaji Shuaib Yamman Abdullah, who contested the primaries with the incumbent governor were present from the beginning to the end "and in fact made very valuable contributions that resulted in the huge success that was recorded in the session."
"For the purpose of emphasis, the caucus meeting was concluded on a good note and good decisions were agreed upon that would catapult to greater pedestal in the state," he maintained.
But in a swift reaction to the allegations of ANPP members waiting for the outcome of the meeting in his house, Lafiagi expressed shock at the allegation and dared the party chairman to name the ANPP members found in his house.
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