POLICE MINISTER’S GUBER AMBITION CAUSES RIPPLES IN EKITI PDP

Governorship ambition of the Police Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd) is causing ripples in the Ekiti State chapter of the People Democratic Party (PDP), and if nothing is done fast, the party may be heading for the rocks.

According to a two-page report signed by the Ekiti Southwest Local Government (ESWLG) chairman of the party and ward Chairmen of the party in Ilawe-Ekiti, a copy of which was made available to our reporter, on Sunday, February 26, Captain Olubolade was at Ilawe-Ekiti where he declared his ambition to contest the State governorship election in 2014.

The report, which source told our reporter has been sent to the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party was signed by Mr. Jegede Sola, EKSWLG PDP Chairman, Alabi Akomolafe, Chief Obabi Afolayan, Mr. S.O.

Ogundele, Mr. Oke Philips Ojo, Chairmen for Wards 2, 3, 5, and 1 respectively. Other leaders of the party, who signed the report, were Kolawole Ajofoyinbo, Olu Aduloju and James Remi-Familoni.

They alleged that the Police Minister declared his intention to contest the State governorship at a meeting held in the house of one Alhaji Gani Bankole in Ilawe-Ekiti.

“At about 11.00am, the Hon. Minister rose up to address the crowd by saying; as an Ekiti indigene who has the interest of his people in mind, I want to tell you that I am interested in the Governorship position of the party, PDP come 2014. The work must begin now and we must do everything humanly possible to clear the next coming congress of the party of all levels to pave way for the reality of the ambition,” they said.

It was further stated in the report that it was agreed at the meeting that “efforts should be made to sabotage Engr. Olusegun Oni's case.”

Olubolade was said to have also donated a sum of N500, 000 to his group to purchase nomination forms and mobilisation towards the party congress, and promised to make available a sum of N50 million to prosecute the Congress.

While decrying the minister's insensitivity to the security situation in the country, the report noted; “We are worried that the Hon.

Minister could come and stay in Ekiti State for factional rallies and meetings while Jos was being bombed. He has completely abandoned his job as Police Minister and he is already pursuing his governorship ambition for 2014 while state security matters are suffering.”