The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has said that the exit of Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo from the party has changed nothing in the party’s structure, formation, and desire of Osun people to deliver victory for the party and its candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, in the September 22 governorship election.
The SDP spokesperson, Mr Taiwo Akeju, reacting to the purported defection of Oladipo from SDP to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), told Nigerian Tribune that the party was not moved by the development, adding that “such a move is expected, and as a party which was not built around individuals, but people, this has changed nothing.”
According to him, “Oladipo is not sincere in his demands to be made deputy governorship candidate to Senator Omisore as a condition to remain in the party, which should not even be a condition for somebody of his calibre to negotiate with. He is a father, an elder; he should remain an elder statesman.
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“As an elder statesman, he is asking to be made the deputy governorship candidate, a position which has already been given to a youthful indigene, Mr Yemi Lawal, SDP being the first party to comply with the ‘Not Too Young to Run’ law, recently passed by the Senate and accented to by President Muhammadu Buhari,” Akeju said.
Besides, he hinted that Alhaji Oladipo partook in a collective agreement reached by SDP that the office should be ceded to Osun-West, which had been complied with, whereas he is from Osun Central, saying his nomination would be a violation of the agreement.
“The party’s supremacy reigns above personal desires. From day one, the party had zoned the deputy governor position to Osun West and Alhaji Oladipo is from Osun Central and the zone has occupied the governorship position for 12 years. So, it is just expedient that SDP takes its deputy governor from Osun West. His demand is a selfish one.
“Already, we have a special plan and consideration for Osun Central, Osogbo, and what we’ve done is the best arrangement. And beyond this, we see Alhaji Oladipo as a senior party man, and on our part, we’ve told him to reconsider his decision in the interest of the party, but he said otherwise. Now the PDP he has run to won’t give anything to Osogbo. But we wish him all the best.
“The PDP already is a party with no members; the party is already in disarray, and what they are currently doing is to induce people with money, which is unfortunate.
Akeju reassured that Oladipo’s defection would not create any vacuum in SDP.
“Let me assure our people that there won’t be any vacuum at all. SDP is not built around individuals. It is built around the people. And as we all know, the Omisore agenda is the people’s project. It is God’s project, which no person can stop,” he stated.
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