Chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan South East local government have faulted the claim contained in a press statement purportedly issued by the trio of Alhaji Ahmed Arapaja, Alhaji Hazzan and Alhaji Mudasiru Olaoti that the National Vice Chairman, South West of the party has hijacked the party structure in the said local government.
This was contained in the reaction jointly issued by the Chairman of Ibadan South East local government, Hon. Emmanuel Oluwole Alawode, Alhaji Tiamiyu Abidikugu, Hon. Muideen Inakoju, Mogaji Abass Oloko Alhaji Ahmed Arapaja and Alhaji Hazzan against the allegation that the Governor has handed over the party structure to Ambassador Arapaja; a move considered to spite the Chairman of Pacesetter Transportation Company, Hon. Dare Adeleke, Hon. Adigun Agboworin representing Ibadan Northeast/Ibadan Southeast Federal Constituency; Hon. Rasak Ademola Abdulahi representing Ibadan South East I state Constituency; Hon. Popoola Ademola Olusegun representing Ibadan South-East II state Constituency, Hon. Kunmi Adesina and others in the local government.
The PDP Chieftains said though Alhaji Ahmed Arapaja, Alhaji Mudasiru Olaoti and Alhaji Hazzan have denied their involvement in the said press statement credited to them, it is, however, imperative to put the record straight so that the public will not fall for the blatant lies and frivolous allegations cooked up to tarnish the image of Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, PDP National Vice Chairman of the south-west.
According to them, “everybody knows Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja as a true democrat and core grassroots mobilizer who will never be involved in anything that will undermine the due process that the PDP is known for.”
“His Excellency, Engr Seyi Makinde has a large heart to accommodate everybody most especially the erring factions in the party. This is the reason why he made Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja a rallying point to unite everybody including the aggrieved that have a genuine claim.
“Ambassador Arapaja did not deny anybody from having their own share in the list of the executive of the party at a ward congress in Ibadan South East local government held on Saturday 25th September 2021 across the country.
“The list of the members of the executive at the ward level is an all-inclusive one in which all the PDP members, coalition group and Omi Tuntun SDP were accommodated.”
“This is what the Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde did across the State to accommodate everybody out of his magnanimity and true reconciliation for all the genuinely aggrieved who are sincere and have no hidden agenda.
“We hereby by this statement want to warn the dissident who is issuing frivolous, baseless and blatant allegations to tarnish the image of our leader, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja to desist from doing so and cooperate with him in his quest to return the South-West back to the mainstream in the 2023 general elections.
“While we urge his Excellency, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja not to be distracted by the antics of the said people, we urge him to continue to pursue the progress of the party in Oyo State and south-west as a whole.
“We use this medium to express our sincere appreciation to all the PDP members who trooped out in their thousands to participate in the ward congress held on Saturday.”
