FORMER Secretary to Government of the Federal (SGF) and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP) Chief Olu Falae, on Friday, distanced himself from the party’s withdrawals from the Presidential race and adoption of President Muhammadu Buhari in the forthcoming election.
Falae who made this known in Akure, Ondo State capital, while reacting to the adoption of President Muhammadu Buhari as its candidate in the election, said he was not part of the decision because he had resigned as the Chairman of the party.
According to him, he planned to announce his exit from active politics last year September during his 80th birthday but had to tarry because of the party’s convention which was around the corner.
He said the party was dragged before the court by a presidential aspirant of the party, Jerry Gana, after the convention, saying the litigation stopped him again from making a public declaration of his exit from active politics.
He said “I was here in Akure when I learned about the party’s decision. I was not at the meeting and part of that decision. I was not at the meeting because since last year I have decided to retire from active politics.
“I took the decision when I turned 80 last year and I would have announced it during on the 21st of September when I turned 80, but we found out that the National convention of the party was just 13 days ahead which is 6th October
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“I felt that to announce my retirement two weeks to the convention would disrupt everything, so we didn’t announce it waited till after the convention.
“But after the convention, Jerry Gana went to court and sued the party and me and we were in court for three months and I could not announce it because of the litigation.
“You can see why it has not been announced till now. and that is why you did not see me at that meeting since I retired.”
He, however, said he handed over to the next person to him, Prof Tunde Adeniran, who has been acting in that capacity since he stepped aside, in line with the constitution of the party.
He said “there is a section in the constitution of the party that says if the position of the chairman is vacant, the deputy national Chairman from the Chairman zone automatically steps in and the person in that position is Prof Tunde Adeniran.
He said he had to take a bow from active politics “to stop carrying the heavy burden as the National Chairman of a major party after 80 when most of my mates can hardly leave their rooms. That is why I took that decision and I have handed over to Prof. Adeniran.
“Though we did not announce my retirement I handed over to him then and now he is defacto chairman of the party. He is a very competent and loyal party member.
He, however, denied his involvement in the action of the party in adopting APC and its presidential candidate, saying “I was never part of that decision but Adeniran normally briefs me about the development in the party since our presidential candidate, Duke, was nowhere to be found.
When Adeniran mentioned it to me, I told him that any party which you’re going to collaborate with, you should commit to the restructuring of the country and that is the absolute minimum.
“Adeniran also expressed his commitment to restructuring and said he was aware of that and would take care of everything and I advised him as the out gone chairman.
“I was not a party to that decision because I have decided to retire and I don’t even know those they talk to and I don’t want to because I have retired.
“I consider restructuring as an absolute requirement in any group we are going to collaborate with as far as I am aware and APC has not done that.
“But maybe when they are talking and discussing the APC has embrace restructuring, I don’t want to second guess anybody but I will advise you to talk to Adeniran.”
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