Stop victimizing Fani-Kayode, Ile-Ife PDP warns NWC
Read the press statement below...
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ile-Ife, home
town of the Director of Media and Publicity of the party’s
Presidential Campaign Committee, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has risen in
strong defence of Fani-Kayode declaring that he remains a loyal member
of the party in the town.
The chairman of the party in ward 05, Iremo, Ile-Ife, Rasheed
Ojikuti while addressing a press conference in Ile-Ife yesterday said
the party at the ward level was in support of Fani-Kayode, who he
described as a committed and financial member of the party.
Also, the PDP leader warned members of the National Working Committee
(NWC) of the party to stop victimizing the former Aviation Minister
and allow him to remain in the party.
The PDP Leader noted that Fani-Kayode has contributed financially to
the party at both the ward, local, state and national level, stressing
that the commitment of the former Aviation Minister to the sustenance
of the party in Ile-Ife and Osun state at large was unequivocal.
It would be recalled that the National Working Committee of the PDP
had through the National Secretary of the party, Professor Wale
Oladipo directed the Osun state chairman of the party, Alhaji Ganiyu
Olaoluwa to authenticate the membership status of Fani-Kayode.
However, Ojikutu recalled that Fani-Kayode was issued the party’s
membership card in Iremo ward 05 ward, Ile-Ife when he defected from
the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, stressing that he has
since been contributing well to the party at all levels.
According to him “Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is a loyal and bona-fide
member of the PDP.
He was issued a membership card of the party in our
ward here in Ile-Ife, his home town when he returned to the party
following relentless and intense pressure from us, and since then he
has been contributing immensely and generously far above the statutory
required levies, both in cash and in kind to the continued growth of
our party at all levels.”
He described the former Minister as a great pillar of support and
beacon of light to the party in Ile-Ife and Osun state at large,
adding that the contributions of Fani-Kayode to the PDP at national
levels can also not be under-estimated.
He added that “it came to us as a surprise that despite the immense
and contributions of Chief Fani-Kayode to the PDP at all levels, the
National Working Committee of the party is seeking disciplinary action
against him just because he joined other great party leaders like
Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state in calling for NWC members to go
home after leading the party to its worst election in its 16 years of
history.”
“We wonder why among all the people that raised similar issue, only
Chief Fani-Kayode has been singled out for a planned sanction. Could
this be a deliberate plan to victimize this great man and force him
out of the party he labored so much for? If it is so, we assure
Nigerians that we shall stand by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and his likes
to the end no matter the cost to our persons and offices. We abhor
victimization, injustice and tyranny, and we shall prove this with all
our strength and everything at our disposal in the coming days unless
those concerned retrace their steps,” he added.
The PDP stalwart maintained that “anyone from Ile-Ife who tries to
embarrass our leaders, be it Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Chief Iyiola
Omisore or any other leader is a traitor and shall be treated as
such.”
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the party in the South West, Mr Dare Adeleke
has warned the NWC members of the party not to make Fani-Kayode a
scape goat for challenging them, saying the statement made by the
erstwhile Aviation Minister was in the interest of the party.
He noted that Fani-Kayode should be applauded for his courage rather
than being victimized by the NWC.
Adeleke who is a former Chairman, Caretaker Management committee of
the party in Ondo state said "if Adamu Muazu could resign as the
National Chairman of the party, and Chief Tony Anenihe could also
resign as the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party, there is
nothing that stops other NWC members from resigning." He cautioned the leadership of the party against victimization of
members, stressing that "this is not the best time for the PDP to
victimize any of its members or witch hunt them."