IBADAN —THE intra-party crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State took a twist yesterday when the expanded state caucus of the party expelled veteran politician, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu and a governorship aspirant in 1999 and 2003, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, from the party.
But in a swift reaction, Alhaji Adedibu described his purported expulsion as a big joke, declaring that he remained a "bonafide member of the PDP in the state and Nigeria as a whole.” Thousands of PDP members and supporters led by Governor Rashidi Ladoja had converged on the party’s secretariat, Mokola Ibadan where the decision to expel the two PDP chieftains for alleged anti-party activities was taken.
Former Special Duties Minister under Abacha regime, Elder Wole Oyelese moved the motion for the expulsion of Alhaji Adedibu and his group from the PDP fold. Said he: “We all contributed to the success of the party, Adedibu cannot hold us to ransom for peace to reign in the Oyo State PDP. And to move forward, there is need to expel Adedibu from the party.”The motion was seconded by Chief Samuel Adetoro from Oke-Ogun. Former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Dr. Dejo Raimi, moved the motion for the expulsion of Alhaji Adeojo and the motion was seconded by Alhaji Bashir Babalola from Iddo local government of the state.
Also at the meeting, Chief Bayo Babalola moved a motion that Governor Ladoja be adopted as leader of the party in the state.At the end of the four-hour meeting held amidst tight security, Senator Brimo Yusuff from Ogbomosho read a five-point communique, announcing the resolutions of the party:
— That one Chief Lamidi Adedibu be expelled from the party forthwith in Oyo State.
— That Chief Yekini Adeojo also be expelled from the party in Oyo State.
— That the Executive Committee of the party be directed to investigate the activities of other leaders and members from all the local governments and that appropriate disciplinary measure should be taken in respect of such
— That the stakeholders forum resolved and accepted Senator Rashidi Ladoja as the leader of the party in the state.
— And also, the forum passed vote of confidence in the state executive committee of the party led by Chief Michael Adegbite as the chief executive officer of the party
Adedibu reacts
When contacted, Alhaji Adedibu said: “I have no reaction. They have no right to invite me to a meeting. I don’t want to join issues with them. I still remain a member of the PDP. The party’s constitution is very clear on how a member can be sanctioned.
We don’t think about them here. We don’t bother about what they have done. We are waiting for directive from Abuja. If you, a member of the central working committee of a party, and some people say they have expelled the two people who constitute the state executive council, what do you do? It is a joke. Time will tell.”Asked how he felt when he was informed that he and Adeojo had been expelled from the party, he said: “Well, that is how God wants it. God controls peace. We want peace but he (Ladoja) is not for peace.”On claims by Governor Ladoja that he (Ladoja) respected him, Alhaji Adedibu retorted: “He doesn’t need to respect me. He respected me before he became governor and I lost the respect when he became governor. If my process and system are wrong, it is not for Ladoja to say so. He has benefitted from the system. It is through my system he became senator. It was through my system he became a high chief in Ibadan and it was my system that produced him as governor. I leave everything in the hands of God.”
Governor Ladoja at the parley warned: “Nobody is above the law, whoever causes a breach of the peace will be punished according to the law of the land.”The governor who thanked traditional rulers and religious organisations in the state for their concern over the crisis in the party, said the state government would no longer tolerate any breakdown of law and order in the state.
