The suspended former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola who was penultimate Wednesday re-instated as National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP through a judgment by an Appeal Court sitting in Abuja said yesterday that the Party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s refusal to honour the court was an invitation to anarchy and damage to the reputation of the party.
In a statement by his Principal Secretary, Femi Adelegan, Oyinlola who noted that he had exhibited true spirit of tolerance, said, “It has become necessary for the sake of posterity to state some of the actions taken by Oyinlola as a level-headed official in pursuit of truth fair play and justice in the matter of his illegal removal from office as the national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Oyinlola, in recent publications explaining the circumstances leading to his removal had recalled that ”I was removed by Justice Kafarati on January 11, 2013, and vacated office immediately; as a politician with honour, respect for the Rule of Law, and a second address. I drove to the office, informed Baba Tukur on phone about the court judgement, and cleared my desk immediately same day, and left for my residence.
“I remember the then Principal Secretary to the national chairman, Senator Idah reportedly came to look for me at Legacy House some two hours after the judgement, but discovered I had left in compliance with Justice Kafarati’s order; even if I considered it questionable.
But when you find someone telling the press that he would not abide by a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, the consequence is an invitation to anarchy and damage to the reputation of the PDP. And as someone who believes in peace and justice, I decided, when the court reinstated me as national secretary, not to engage in acts detrimental to peaceful conduct. All other organs that are superior to NWC have been side-lined.
“I believe that many stakeholders are keeping quiet out of respect for the national leader, President Jonathan acts that could lead to physical confrontation by our supporters. The motive of the illegal suspension is to ambush the Judiciary and stop Oyinlola from functioning as national secretary”.
“I don’t want to believe that there could be anybody functioning after the order of the Biblical Ahitophel”. There appears to be an indecent haste to nail us. I feel sure that most of the stakeholders – legislators, state governors and elders of the party are unhappy at the trend of impunity and disregard for the Rule of Law, and fundamental human rights exhibited by some members and attempts by some elements to push us out of the PDP at all costs. They have only kept quiet in the interest of their belief in reconciliation and hope that the leadership would tread the path of moral rectitude. If the NWC that ought to have called 7 meetings of NEC since inception 20 months ago has succeeded in calling only 2 meetings; do you think stakeholders would be happy at being shut out?’
“It is not as if due process has been circumvented by us. Let’s look at the trend, causes and effects of the whole scenario to be able to read between the lines and see if there are justifications for our actions. I think our accusers ought to have taken the pains to examine the causes and effects of occurrences instead of further adopting measures that could translate into disrespect for the Judiciary.
“Since the unfortunate court pronouncement of January 2013, I took steps to dialogue with the national leader, His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan and communicated my grievances to him in writing a number of times; I made representations to the Chief Tony Anenih Committee; I submitted a memorandum to the PDP Governors Panel headed by His Excellency, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema; consulted with the Prof. Jerry Gana Committee; and also had informal consultations with the Governor Seriake Dickson’s Reconciliation Committee through a member of the Panel Chief Dosu Fatokun; and expressed intention to discuss with them; among other moves to find an amicable solution my illegal removal from office.
“Up till now, there have been no revelations about the outcome of these peace initiatives. I am surprised that some people have continued to trail Oyinlola with rabid and unimaginable downbeat intentions. I pray that history will be merciful in judgement to all actors in this saga; and that some people will refrain from continuing to take actions that could enter their names on the negative pages of history.
Oyinlola, in recent publications explaining the circumstances leading to his removal had recalled that ”I was removed by Justice Kafarati on January 11, 2013, and vacated office immediately; as a politician with honour, respect for the Rule of Law, and a second address. I drove to the office, informed Baba Tukur on phone about the court judgement, and cleared my desk immediately same day, and left for my residence.
“I remember the then Principal Secretary to the national chairman, Senator Idah reportedly came to look for me at Legacy House some two hours after the judgement, but discovered I had left in compliance with Justice Kafarati’s order; even if I considered it questionable.
But when you find someone telling the press that he would not abide by a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, the consequence is an invitation to anarchy and damage to the reputation of the PDP. And as someone who believes in peace and justice, I decided, when the court reinstated me as national secretary, not to engage in acts detrimental to peaceful conduct. All other organs that are superior to NWC have been side-lined.
“I believe that many stakeholders are keeping quiet out of respect for the national leader, President Jonathan acts that could lead to physical confrontation by our supporters. The motive of the illegal suspension is to ambush the Judiciary and stop Oyinlola from functioning as national secretary”.
“I don’t want to believe that there could be anybody functioning after the order of the Biblical Ahitophel”. There appears to be an indecent haste to nail us. I feel sure that most of the stakeholders – legislators, state governors and elders of the party are unhappy at the trend of impunity and disregard for the Rule of Law, and fundamental human rights exhibited by some members and attempts by some elements to push us out of the PDP at all costs. They have only kept quiet in the interest of their belief in reconciliation and hope that the leadership would tread the path of moral rectitude. If the NWC that ought to have called 7 meetings of NEC since inception 20 months ago has succeeded in calling only 2 meetings; do you think stakeholders would be happy at being shut out?’
“It is not as if due process has been circumvented by us. Let’s look at the trend, causes and effects of the whole scenario to be able to read between the lines and see if there are justifications for our actions. I think our accusers ought to have taken the pains to examine the causes and effects of occurrences instead of further adopting measures that could translate into disrespect for the Judiciary.
“Since the unfortunate court pronouncement of January 2013, I took steps to dialogue with the national leader, His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan and communicated my grievances to him in writing a number of times; I made representations to the Chief Tony Anenih Committee; I submitted a memorandum to the PDP Governors Panel headed by His Excellency, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema; consulted with the Prof. Jerry Gana Committee; and also had informal consultations with the Governor Seriake Dickson’s Reconciliation Committee through a member of the Panel Chief Dosu Fatokun; and expressed intention to discuss with them; among other moves to find an amicable solution my illegal removal from office.
“Up till now, there have been no revelations about the outcome of these peace initiatives. I am surprised that some people have continued to trail Oyinlola with rabid and unimaginable downbeat intentions. I pray that history will be merciful in judgement to all actors in this saga; and that some people will refrain from continuing to take actions that could enter their names on the negative pages of history.
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