ONDO PDP LIFTS SUSPENSION ON DEFENCE MINISTER

After weeks of crisis that engulfed the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), peace appears to be returning to the party as the party leadership pardoned the Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN).

Kayode was pardoned following the intervention of PDP zonal office.

The defence minister was suspended few weeks after the conduct of the general elections by the leadership of the party for what was labelled as 'anti-party affairs.'

Kayode had incurred the wrath of the party executive due to his failure to use his office to support party members.

Members of the party in the National Assembly had petitioned the state executive to punish the minister for his lackadaisical attitude to their cause.

The party also claimed that the minister used his machinery to support the ruling government in the state.

However, the crisis further degenerated when the group, loyal to the minister announced the dissolution of the state executive of the party and the suspension of former governor, Olusegun Agagu.

The group said to be loyal to the minister, later formed a parallel executive which they inaugurated .

But, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Yemi Adedipe said the lifting of the suspenstion took immediate effect.

Adedipe, in a statement made available to reporters in Akure said the action was in respect to the intervention of the party's zonal Chairman for South-west, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo.

The statement reads in part: 'We want to use this opportunity to call on those that are currently on a collision course with the party in this state to sheath their sword and imbibe the need to create their quota to the development, growth and unity of the party.

'Further more, the executive committee of the party wishes to assure the teeming masses, supporters and members that the ongoing crisis in the party is being tackled and will be resolved very soon as we are working assiduously to build a united and formidable party that can deliver on its promises to the people of Ondo State.'

Meanwhile, fresh facts emerged yesterday why many Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Ondo were kicking against the retention of Defence Minister, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode.

Kayode was initially nominated in 2003 by the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) probe had indicted the minister in a fraud that rocked the commission.

The minister was later given clean bill of health but the ministerial slot had been given to Mrs. Mobolaji Osomo.

Similarly, the minister was re-nominated by the same governor in 2007 for ministerial slot under the late Musa Yar'adua's cabinet . This time around, his name scaled through and he had since remained a minister.

Despite the fact that his boss who appointed him died, his successor, President Goodluck Jonathan retained him.

However, it was learnt that trouble started for the minister when he decided to dump the man that brought him to limelight.

He was said to have supported the ruling Labour Party(LP) with necessary machinery in the last election which led to the dismal outing of the party.

The Agagu group was said not to be happy with the way the Defence minister treated his former boss when he needed his assistance most.