In this interview with ADEOLU ADEYEMO, the factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Osun State, Honourable Sunday Bisi spoke on his party’s preparations for the gubernatorial election coming up on July 22, 2022 in the state, moves to reconcile aggrieved members, among other issues:
To what extent can you say the crises in Osun PDP have been resolved amicably?
One, the Appeal Court sitting in Akure decided that the erstwhile chairman was no longer the chairman of the Osun state chapter of the PDP and that I remain the substantive one; that gave our party the assurance of reconciliation. The judgement was a testimony to the fact that there is no cog in the wheel of our progress. That has given us the opportunity to tour all the local governments in the state and to meet with aggrieved members so that we can move the party forward. We are not folding our hands at all.
But in a recent interview with PDP factional leader, Honourable Soji Adagunodo, he said no resolution trip can be made without him being there and that the Akure judgment did not hold water.
I read it too, but I think this is not the time to trade words. There were contradictions in the interview. One, he claimed the Appeal Court never ruled that he was no longer the chairman. Two, in another paragraph, he said that his prayer before the court now is that his removal is illegal, null and void, based on the 2017 constitution of our party, as amended. Can we explain that if the court did not rule against you, why must you pray again that such removal was illegal? In any case, the issue of semantics should not come in here. If you were not legally removed, why praying in the appeal? We, in the party and other concerned stakeholders, have started the negotiating process. The reconciliation is on in full form. For instance, the Osun PDP began a tour of the local government areas and sensitised members on team work. It began on June 1, 2021. We started with Irewole, Isokan, and Ayedaade local governments areas of the state. The tour is in conformity with the decision reached by the state Executive Committee and as approved by the critical stakeholders of the party. To the joy of our party, new members from All Progressives Congress (APC) were received in the local governments visited. We are of the opinion that our PDP will resolve all nagging differences. Among other things, we have been able to resolve that the party should be financed through coordinated efforts thereby giving everyone a dutiful sense of belonging. The local government sensitisation tour continues, without any hitches but with considerable and appreciable success.
Like I always say, as the Osun State PDP chairman, I am enjoining the good people of state to set aside all differences, especially those still feeling aggrieved to rise to rescue the state that has been pushed to the brinks of insolvency. I cannot do it alone; my door is open. Like I said in Akure, I appealed to all our leaders across the state to stand and be counted at this time to mend fences without delay so as to put our dear state in the right path. We need to rescue our state from the uncompromising carnivores devouring the state into carcass. I remain absolutely committed to double my efforts in reconciling all interest in the parity for the sake of lasting peace and tranquility in the party.
Why do you think the major tendencies before the peace moves are subsisting in the PDP in the state? Moreover, many party faithful remain divided?
Crises are global; it is not peculiar to our state alone and specifically, it is not peculiar to our party alone. Remember, Rome was not built in a day. It took years and seasons. When we say reconciliation, it is not something that begins in the morning and ends at mid-day. A lot of our members feel hurt and betrayed; some feel absolutely neglected and abandoned. It has not been easy, there will be maneuverings and maneuverings; there will be consultations and consultations. It is going to be issue of shifting, you shift, I shift. No individual can lay claim to the monopoly of party control in the state. We are on course; unity is certain. But at this point, I need to state very emphatically that even in the armed forces, a general does not claim to have a battalion without a troop, likewise a party chairman remains a fluke without followers and a chairman who claims to be alone and is forbidden not to attend party NEC meeting while another person does, should have a rethink.
The difference is clear; justice was glaring. Which judgment do we need again? Members of PDP have obviously seen that there is a chairman now. What we are concerned about now is unity and a very formidable togetherness. This party is too big to be polarised. We need to be deeply grass-rooted. Popularity counts, but we need to touch the grassroots and mend fences.
What kind of zoning arrangement should PDP adopt in terms of power rotation and configuration for the 2022 governorship poll in the state and why?
This is not a question for any individual like me alone. The party is too big for an individual to decide. We need to speak with one voice. For instance, Osun Central senatorial district has produced more governors in persons of former Governors Adebisi Akande, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Mr Adegboyega Oyetola. Therefore, other zones should be beneficiaries of the stool of Abere too. The PDP in Osun should not be seen as too keen on zoning. We are not a desperate party, we believe in equity and fair distribution of the commonwealth and resources. Let me tell you that a governor, who emerges and has conscience should not believe he is from a zone. A governor, who believes in grass-root democracy should have the vision of serving all zones, whether he is voted for there or not. Zoning in Osun is a defining factor and our party knows that when the party elders speak, I have no choice but to toe the line they have chosen. PDP does not belong to an individual; it is going to be a joint decision. But, I think those who had benefited more than any other zone should be able to step aside for those who have never tasted power so that governance would go round.
Does PDP stand any chance in the South-West, especially in Osun?
We shot ourselves in the legs because we had traitors within. Rauf Aregbesola should not have won the litigations if there had not been cracks within our camp; that is now history. What happened then should not repeat itself again. We are fastening our belts. We are leaving no stone unturned this time around. At the national level, the APC has failed in all ramifications. Insecurity is on the high side; the economy has collapsed; blood is shed on a daily basis; there is economic insincerity; we have been fooled and tricked. Buhari should have resigned long ago. We need a leader who is more proactive. It is time for PDP to prove to Nigerians that we know better. Back in Osun, people are crying. We now have the chance to take over the state and rescue it from a political, social and economic shambles. As united as we are now, we are occupying Abere. The crisis between the governor and his god-father has almost ruined Osun. The governor is now distracted; he has no focus on the issue of governance. This is our time to restore the glory of Osun State.
A school of thought believes that Senator Ademola Adekeke is your anointed candidate for the next governorship election in the state. How disposed are you to this?
The stand of our party is that Senator Ademola Adeleke, performed wonderfully during the last election. He has won two elections in quick succession. In the senatorial election; he won nine out of 10 local government areas. He defeated the sitting governor before the abracadabra and remote control from Abuja changed the whole thing and since that time, he has not left us as a party. He has been looking back, performing his duty and looking at the welfare of party members. Every festive period, even during COVID-19 lockdown, he kept on doing things for us. So, if people are saying Adeleke is the one we want; if people are endorsing him right, left and centre, we as a party do not see anything bad in that. However, we are not saying that whoever that is interested should not come out. No! It shouldn’t be so. Let those who are also interested come out and vie. This is a democracy and we are going to have a primary election where the governorship candidate of our party is going to emerge. I want to remind you of one thing. In 2018, when Adagunodo was holding sway as party chairman, the party threw its weight behind Akin Ogunbiyi; Adeleke didn’t even bother. He came into the election and he defeated the candidate of the party then. So, what are we saying? Whoever is interested should come out and contest.
What are your conclusions on the state polity, defection of your members to APC and the consequences of internal rifts?
All said and done, my conclusions are: first, the PDP in Osun has no worthy factions. We have almost 95 per cent harmonisation. The stage is set and our victory is certain. An individual cannot hold claim to our party. Second, the defection of our party members in Ede or any other place is a mere child play. They are all coming back into the fold. We are one family; all those offended shall be placated. Victory is ours. Third, I still repeat the fact that I want all of us to embrace sincere peace, love, cooperation, intra-party synergy with a view to ensuring we set Osun state free from the shackles of slavery and visionless leaders.
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