…says Obasanjo, Martins-Kuye brains behind action

By Kolade Larewaju

 ABEOKUTA – TRAFFIC on the Presidential Boulevard in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital was virtually brought to a standstill  yesterday as members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, organised a rally to protest the dissolution of the State Executive Council by the National Working Committee of the party.

Thousands of members, who stormed the State Secretariat of the party on the Boulevard spilled on to the main road, chanting anti-President Olusegun Obasanjo and Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye songs.

Led by some leaders, including commissioners, local government chairmen and party stalwarts, the protest rally condemned the dissolution of the state executive by the National Chairman of the party, Chief Okwezilieze Nwodo, saying that he pandered to the wishes of the Jubril Martins-Kuye group to dissolve the Exco.

Speakers at the rally included the Commissioner for Social Development and Cooperative; Prince Lekan Tejuoso, Commissioner for Women Affairs; Ms. Tomi Soboyejo, Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development; Chief Kola Onadipe, Chairman of Ifo Local Government; Alhaji Sikirulai Ogundele and former Special Adviser to President Obasanjo on Women Affair; Mrs. Titilayo Ajanaku.

Amidst songs denigrating the decision to dissolve the party executive, Chief Kola Onadipe accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of taking sides with the Jubril Martins-Kuye group.

He lamented that it was the same Congress which elected the now dissolved executives that nominated Obasanjo to become, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party and also chose Senator Martins-Kuye and Alhaji Sule Onabiyi as delegates to the National Convention of the party.

He said, “the former President should speak out because he was the brain behind the dissolution of the executive. Since our lawmakers in Abuja have been creating problems for us in the state, he has refused to say anything or call them to order. We want him to speak on these matters. As a good father, he must speak.
“The Exco was legally constituted and cannot be dissolved like that. They are after Governor Gbenga Daniel and this is a man who has been doing good to all. Even the National Award that was given to Martins-Kuye, his form was signed by Governor Daniel. If his nomination form had not been signed, he would not have been given the award.”

In his own speech, the Chairman of Ifo; Alhaji Ogundele said the dissolution was an insult which should be rebuffed by members of the party in the state.

He said the Elder Joju Fadairo-led Executive of the party remained the authentic leadership of the party in the state.