Uneasy calm in Osun pdp over chairman's purported resignation

Uneasy calm rent the political space in Osogbo, Osun State capital, yesterday over alleged resignation of the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic (PDP), Alhaji Ademola Rasaq. But his spokesman and director, publicity and strategy of the party, Prince Deolu Adeyemo, debunked the news, saying he was yet to be briefed about the development.

'I don't think that news is true. I am yet to have enough fact on it. I have been trying the chairman's phone numbers since the rumour broke out but I couldn't reach him,' Adeyemo stated. Another aide of the chairman, who would not want his name in print, also described the allegation as 'sheer propaganda, aimed at frustrating the chairman,' adding that 'the rumour has been on for over two months now.'

Daily Sun gathered that the embattled chairman had traveled abroad for a medical check up over a heart-related problem and a recent accident where one of his fingers was chopped off by the door of one of his cars.

The rumour mill had been awash with the news of Rasaq's resignation since weekend with many PDP leaders in the state denying knowledge of such development. His health was said to be deteriorating, which led to his absence from the presidential primaries of his party.

But yesterday, a purported letter of resignation, allegedly written by the chairman, was sent to the e-mail address of reporters in the state. Interestingly, the letter bore no date and was not addressed to anyone. It was, however, copied the former governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Efforts to get the reaction of the secretary of the PDP in the state, Mr. Yinka Adeojo, yielded no result as several calls to his mobile phone were diverted.

Also, calls made to the phone numbers of the Acting Chairman, Elders' Caucus of the party in the state, Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, as well as that of the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, were not answered.

Meanwhile, Daily Sun gathered yesterday that an emergency meeting of the party's elders had been summoned for Inisa country home of Alhaji Oyedokun to deliberate on the development.

A very reliable source confided in Daily Sun that the emergency meeting would also decide the fate of the remaining members of the state executive council of the party.

Officers of the party in the state had been facing tough times from the party's leaders and members over allegations of high-handedness and adopting of one of governorship aspirants on the platform of the party.