Osun 2022: Deji Adeleke React As PDP NWC Reprimands Purported Adoption of Adeleke As Party Candidate

Mouthpiece NG gathered that some leaders and few members of the party had converged on the erstwhile candidate’s country home in Ede, Osun State for a Thanksgiving program and subsequently adopted him as the anointed candidate of the party for 2022 governorship election. 

The adoption came barely five days after the party lost the state governorship tussle before the Supreme Court. 

It was gathered that Mr Oladele Bamiji had quoted Prince Diran Odeyemi, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP as saying, “I hereby declare no vacancy in Osun on behalf of Prince Uche Secondus.

Mr Oladele who revealed how the decision was made seems to be pleased with the adoption of Senator Ademola Adeleke as the party candidate, according to source. 

Oladele said, Dr Peter Babaloola set the table for the decision and quoted the party chieftain as saying, “on behalf of Osun PDP members, I hereby move, that Senator Ademola Adeleke remains the candidate of Osun PDP in the 2022 governorship election and that we start working towards that goal as one indivisible family from this moment.”

Kicking against the adoption, a source within the National Working committee of the party on Wednesday described the adoption as null, adding that the party has learnt her lessons and would not allow what led to her defeat in the previous elections to repeat itself. 

“Why the rush?  2022 is still far ahead of us. For now, we are concerned about how to settle the differences presently affecting the party unity in the state.” He said.

A security expert and chieftain of the party in the state, Mr Akin Adeyi also noted, “by the way, what do we call it when party people are invited to a  program disguised and tagged prayers and Thanksgiving but only for them to get there and be railroaded into a different agenda entirely. Endorsement of this magnitude is a party Secretariat and not anybody’s private living room affairs no matter how such person may be highly placed.”

Another member of the party with a dissenting views bemoaned the decision. He retorted: “this is not a matter of presenting candidates. It’s a matter of taken the right step at the right time.  It’s too early to take such a decision. The party needs to work on aggrieved members for now and look for ways to bring in more members.  This is the most useless decision I have seen in my political history.”

Decrying the step taken by the party, another member of the party with separate views urged the party to adhere to her construction. 

He posited, “my personal opinion on the forth coming election goes thus: it’s too early to know and declare a credible candidate for the party. The party should see it as a necessity to give room for all intending aspirants but a consensus candidate will emerge as there won’t be any room for primaries to avoid dealers and greedy delegates.”

“There must be specified rules and requirements for aspirants to meet before deciding who to be chosen. Don’t forget we have more than enough highly placed, notable, credible above all intellectually sound with no bad record or excess political baggage anywhere. This must be encouraged within our party.”

“Lastly, very important, the party and its members must strictly adhere to the constitution of the party. Money bags must not be allowed to hijack the party against the laid down rules and procedures as enshrined in our party constitution. Everybody must be welcomed to the party , but must abide with our rules and constitution.”

Meanwhile, the family of Adeleke has reacted barely 24 hours after the unanimous adoption of Sen Ademola Adeleke as the sole candidate of People’s Democratic Party in the 2022 governorship election. 

The family through the bussiness mogul, Deji Adeleke rejected the offer while reminding the party leadership and elders of promises made which they did not fulfil in the last gubernatorial election. 

“I am not a card carrying member of any political party but I am a sympathizer/ supporter of PDP in Osun State. Osun State PDP will be better off and well prepared, for the next general election in the State, if internal democracy is encouraged and enforced. All elective positions, including the position of Governor of the State, should be open to all members of the party to contest in a transparent Primary Elections. Everyone must be given a sense of belonging, in order to grow the party in Osun State”

“The PDP members that are trading blames within the party should be reminded that PDP won the Governorship Election held on 22nd September 2018, but was not allowed to take office by the powers that be in the Ruling Party. Members should be proud that the electorate sided with the party against the ruling party in that Election and not blame each other for the day light robbery that deprived the party of the mandate freely given by the Good People of Osun State, which has brought SHAME and DISGRACE to Nigeria as Country”

“AS for the Adeleke Family of which I am one, we will like to remind all PDP members that Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke, had no intention to contest the Governorship Election in the first place, but was invited and prevailed upon by the Party leadership and Party Elders to contest the Governorship Election, which he and his family accepted most reluctantly after receiving assurances and promises that were NEVER KEPT. Everything that followed after this, is now History. Senator Adeleke should, therefore be given a break, to take his Well-Deserved Rest and decide what he will do/not do when the time comes”

“And for the members and other well wishers who are concerned about the Huge Resources committed to execute both the Primary and General Elections, and the payment to Lawyers in the inner bar (SANs) and their juniors, I thank all of them for their concerns. But whatever is spent on Elections should NOT be considered an INVESTMENT that will be recouped upon assumption of office through corruption and open banditry as we have seen happen in Osun State in the last 8.5 years. 

Contributions to an Election Fund should always be considered a GRANT, to help deepen our Democracy and advance the Rule of law, which eventually translates into Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), Economic growth and Job creation” he noted.