VOWS TO RECLAIM OSUN

After almost two years of simmering internal wrangling, leaders of Osun State chapter of Peoples Democratic People (PDP) came together again and vowed to reclaim Osun State from the control of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

At a meeting held at Osogbo residence of the National Vice-Chairman of the party, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, the PDP elders also indicated their resolve to fight what they called 'judicial imposition' of ACN government in the state.

In a communiqué read by the chairman of the Elders Caucus of the party and PDP erstwhile National Deputy Chairman (South), Shuaib Oyedokun, the party chieftains resolved to bury their differences for the future victory of the party in the next elections.

'Today's meeting has resolved as follows: that henceforth, all factions, splinter groups stand dissolved while the executive council of the party remains re-validated and recognized under a special arrangement whereby all the elders and relevant stakeholders will come together to move the party forward and this is generally accepted by all.

'The party has, therefore, mandated all its aspirants at all levels, particularly at senatorial level, House of Representatives level and state House of Assembly level, to come together to reverse the injustice of judicial imposition of power in Osun State.

'The party regretted that the Court of Appeal nullified elections in 10 out 30 local governments without calling for fresh election, which means all the people in all those 10 local government were disenfranchised. That is not democracy. Two legs cannot carry a tripod. PDP will continue to fight judicial imposition in Osun State', Oyedokun stated.

The meeting, which lasted about six hours behind closed doors, saw sworn enemies of the party sitting together for the first since the last three years.

At the meeting were ousted governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, his former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Fatai Akinbade; Minister for Youths Development, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi; three senators from the state, Senators Iyiola Omisore, Isiaka Adeleke and Simeon Oduoye and pioneer chairman of the party in the state, Chief Olayiwola Ogunrinade.

Others are Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adejare Bello; Chairman, Governing Council of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Chief Olu Alabi; and embattled chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Rasaq Ademola.