A group under the aegis of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Patriots has warned the party’s leadership and its presidential candidate in 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar to bewary of the alleged antics of former governor Ayodele Fayose.
The group in a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Richard Akinpelu, alleged that the ex-governor was not favourably disposed to Atiku’s victory, hence, should not be entrusted with PDP Presidential Campaign Council in Ekiti State.
It cautioned that apoointing the former governor’s loyalists into the Presidential Campaign Committee in the state would be disastrous for the party.
The statement reads in part, “We have authoritatively learnt of former governor Fayose’s list of stooges which he sent to the Party’s Headquarters in Abuja for approval as those to be in charge of the presidential campaign in Ekiti and we make bold to say that majority of the names on the list are incapable of making decisions that will lead to the victory of the party in the state.
“For instance, the director of media was the same person who led the media directorate for the last Governorship election in the state where the two main opposition media team completely overshadowed the PDP media team due to high handedness, lack of reinforcement and support which are needed to boost the morale of team members.
“It is on note that half of the PDP media team members resigned their appointment within a week into the commencement of the gubernatorial campaigns. It is laughable that Mr. Ayo Fayose can nominate someone who doesn’t have any prior knowledge of coordinating a mushroom group as the director in charge of volunteer groups for the election. Those nominated, including the director of finance will only do the biddings of the person who nominated them, which is to siphon money meant for the election and deprive Atiku victory.
“In Ekiti today, supporters of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar are divided into three, the aggrieved PDP members who left for the Social Democratic Party, the second group is PDP members and supporters who has had enough of former governor Fayose’s rapaciousness, high handedness, and hanky panky, the third is set of people who feel comfortable with the former governor’s style.
“So, whoever will direct the Campaign in Ekiti must be a personality with ability to rally round these three groups and not a former governorship candidate, Otunba Bisi Kolawole as suggested by former governor Fayose.
“Without sounding immodest, how does Otunba Bisi Kolawole’s person appeal to the over eighty thousand SDP supporters who voted against the PDP in protest against Fayose’s one man show? How does Otunba Kolawole appeal to more than half of the 67,000 voters who has since parted ways with him and former governor Fayose because they believe they both sold out the party during the July governorship election?”, he asked.
The group further added that “With the action of the former Governor in recent times, it is obvious he is not for the victory of the party but looking for an avenue to divert funds meant for the election just as in 2019 when the money meant for security could not be accounted for.
“We wondered why Mr Fayose will claim to be working for the party yet setting his supporters to blackmail, malign, and campaign against the only Senator elected on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Ekiti, Distinguished Senator Biodun Olujimi, who is seeking re-election to the Senate Chamber and advised that only the collegiate Leaders who have the confidence of the party members reposed in them are qualified to lead the State Presidential Campaign Committee,” he submitted.
