Few weeks after ex-members of the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, decided to bury their hatchets and return to their old party, another crisis is brewing.
This was after many of them heaved sigh of relief, celebrating what many people, especially keen watchers of politics, call ‘political reunion’.
But some top members of the party, including their supporters, are unhappy over the composition of membership of the caretaker committee in the state. This is because many people had been edged out when names of the committee members to assist the Tunde Akogun led caretaker committee were reeled out, ”for no tangible reason,’ said a party source.
It was gathered that signs of impending disagreement started at the Ondo residence of former governor Rashidi Ladoja.
Being a former governor and the oldest, PDP leaders had fixed a meeting for the old man’s residence, to do a mini meeting before the ratification of the names by the national caretaker committee of the party. At the meeting where many members of the party.
After the exchange of greetings, Ladoja, insideoyo.com was told, started reading names of those who made the list. Trouble, it was learnt, started when Seyi Makinde’s running mate in the 2015 election, Lateef Adeniran, stood up and move towards Ladoja, to protest the removal of his name as the representative of Irepo local government in the commitee.
Adeniran, who is popularly known as Santana, had been penciled down to represent his council but Ladoja’s loyalist- Bayo Lawal was announced. This angered him. He protested, an action which made him to be ‘allegedly’ manhandled by Ladoja’s supporters at the meeting. Attempts by Makinde’s security team to prevent him from being beaten fell on deaf ears. He was said to have left with only one leg of his shoes. Makinde threatened to leave the venue but he was said to have been prevailed upon.
It was also learnt that it took the intervention of many stalwarts of the party to get a former member of the House of Representatives, Lanre Agoro, instead of a former Oyo Assembly member, Michael Okunlade, to represent Oorelope local government in the committee.
In Ibadan North local government, supporters of a former deputy governor, Hazeem Gbolarunmi are unhappy over the non-inclusion of their principal in the committee. A former Secretary to the State Government, Sharafadeen Alli, is representing the council.
In Ibadan North East local government, the two serving lawmakers, Kehinde Oloya and Adeoye, who are in the second term and were elected on the platform of Accord, are not happy that Makinde was given the council’s slot.
In the 3 Ibarapa local government areas, Ladoja’s loyalists hold sway in 2, leaving a former House of Reps member, Muraina Ajibola with the remaining one.
In Surulere local government, supporters of PDP’s surviving Reps member in the state, Olusegun Odebunmi, are unhappy that their principal is not considered. A former senator, Ayo Adeseun, is representing the council in the committee.
In Atiba local government, a former member of the House of Representatives, Kamil Akinlabi, was considered. Akinlabi’s nominee, Wahab Waliu Adetunji is representing the council in the committee.
Though unconfirmed, Ladoja’s supporters are holding sway as committee members in 21 out of the 33 council areas .
Many party members are said to be angry and threatening to leave if not addressed.
