The Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described a former Minister of Mines and Power, Elder Wole Oyelese, who is a leader in the party, as a mole working in league with the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to destroy the PDP.
PDP, in a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Akeem Olatunji, said it was embarrassed when Oyelese, during a radio interview programme in Ibadan, on Tuesday “unsolicited praises” on President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as the “only honest and incorruptible politician” in the country.
The party said while Oyelese was entitled to his own opinion on Buhari, running down the leadership of the PDP at the both the state and the national level, while lavishing praises on Buhari, indicated that Oyelese was sent to destabilise and then destroy the PDP.
The statement added that even a call from one of the listeners to the programme who cited the cases of $20billion contracted awarded in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the recall of former chairman of Pension Reform Task Force, Abdurasheed Maina, the N250million grass-cutting scam involving the sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and others, could persuade Oyelese.
“The attention of the PDP in Oyo State has been drawn to a radio interview granted by Elder Oyelese on IBR FM 92.5, on Tuesday afternoon and the party was highly embarrassed and surprised that a leader in PDP could describe President Buhari as the only honest and incorruptible politician in the country.
“As luck would have it, a distraught Nigerian called in to disagree with him, citing the cases of Maina, Babachir, $20b NNPC contract and many others in which President Buhari is alleged to be aiding and abetting corruption.
“PDP is less bothered that Elder Oyelese had to go on air to disparage the leadership of the party, but gave unsolicited praises to a man that symbolises suffering, collapse of the nation’s economy and insecurity across the country.
“One could deduce a very germane fact from the interview. There is likely an ongoing grand plan to destabilise PDP in Oyo State with the likes of Elder Oyelese who has shown disdain and hatred for the leadership of the PDP in the state and the national level.
“It is time for every one of us to be wary of those around us. We can’t just toy with 2019 elections; they are a must win for PDP. Remember, some are planted to destroy the party and go the other direction.
“The present crop of PDP leadership under Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha will rather leave politics instead of joining APC that has only come out to put the masses into suffering of unimaginable magnitude.
“Oyo PDP, therefore, assures all the aspirants on the platform of the party of a level-playing field as demanded and mandated by the leader of the party and former governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.
“This is a new and rejuvenated PDP under the national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and going by the current strength of PDP in the state, we promise to make 2019 elections 33:0 against APC or any other opposition party,” the statement said.
