Former Secretary to Government of the Federal (SGF) and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP) Chief Olu Falae, on Friday, dissociated himself from the party’s withdrawal 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 forth coming presidential 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 round the corner.
He added that the party was dragged before the court by a presidential aspirant of the party, Professsor Jerry Gana, after the convention, adding that the litigation stopped him again from making public declaration of his exit from active politics.
He said:”I learnt about the party’s decision to adopt President Muhammadu Buhari as their presidential candidate here in Akure.”
I was not at the meeting and part of that decision. I was not at the meeting because I’ve decided to retire from active politics since last year.
“I took this decision when I turned 80 last year and I would have announced it on the 21st of September when I turned 80, but we found out that the national convention of party was just 13 days ahead which was 6th of October.
“I felt that to announce my retirement two weeks to the convention would disrupt everything, so I 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. I could not announce my retirement 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.
“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’s zone automatically steps in and the person in that position is Prof. Tunde Adeniran. He is de facto chairman of the party. He is very competent and a loyal party member, “Falae stated.
He however denied his involvement in the decision of the party to adopt APC‘s presidential candidate saying, “I was never part of that decision, but Adeniran normally briefs me on the development in the party since our presidential candidate, Duke, was nowhere to be found.
“When Adeniran mentioned it to me, I told him any party SDP will collaborate with should be committed to the restructuring of the country and that’s the absolute minimal.
“Adeniran also expressed his commitment to restructuring of the country and promised to take care of everything.
“I was not a party to that decision and I don’t even know those they talked to and I don’t want to know because I have retired.
“I consider restructuring as an absolute requirement in any group we are going to collaborate with and as far as I am aware APC has not done that.
“But maybe when they were talking and discussing, the APC has embraced restructuring. I don’t want to second guess anybody, but I will advise you to talk to Adeniran, “he stated.
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