We note with concern that the media space has been lately awash with the news of Social Democratic Party (SDP) producing two candidates for the October 10, 2020 governorship election in Ondo State. But, it is pertinent to state in the actual sense that SDP only has one gubernatorial candidate in the person of Alhaji Adekunle Saliu for the election in Ondo State.
Before now, a faction of SDP led by
Prof. Adeniran/ Gabam / Agunloye have succeeded in hijacking and unfairly oppressed the founders of SDP because of lean resources of the party’s founding fathers. Although, the inglorious era of free reign by the oppressor and hijacker of SDP was of course before Rep. Tajudeen Adefisoye joined the party.
It is on record that things were unfortunately very messy in the SDP before Rep. Adefisoye made his entrance into the party. The very first target of Rep. Adefisoye after joining SDP was to clean up the messy situation and unite all known factions within the party. It is also necessary to underscore the fact that the burning desire to achieve reconciliation in SDP by Rep. Adefisoye has till date been regretably frustrated by the Prof. Adeniran/ Gabam / Agunloye led faction of the party. Severally had Rep. Adefisoye called for a peace meeting and severally had the Prof. Adeniran/ Gabam / Agunloye faction managed to come up with different excuses to justify their inability to show up.
With every sense of responsibility, we can confirm that Prof. Adeniran/ Gabam / Agunloye faction have regretably been engaging in selling the party to the highest bidder during previous elections. This much was personally experienced by Rep Adefisoye when he was contesting on the platform of SDP in 2019. It is on record that members of the National Working Committee colluded with the opponent of Rep Adefisoye to remove his name and later sold his documents to a certain opponent. It took serious efforts and resources on the part of Rep Adefisoye before his name could be restored by INEC. It is doubtful if these set of people could ever be trusted.
This unpatriotic habit of trading with SDP during every election had gotten to an unacceptable level that true lovers of democracy have got to say enough is enough. Rep Adefisoye is now determined more than before to clean the Augean stable and embark on building of strong and enduring structure in Ondo State chapter of SDP.
We are glad to inform SDP members in Ondo State that a new era has begun in the party and a new kid in the block has taken over the party from cheap political merchants that are masquerading as genuine democrats. We really found it laughable when the faction of Prof. Adeniran/ Gabam / Agunloye could conduct its primary election at the party secretariat in Akure. We really wonder how on earth would any serious faction of a political party that is worth its onion could have settled for a party secretariat as venue of its governorship primary election.
In sharp contrast, the other faction of SDP in Ondo State had conducted its governorship primary election at Ondo Motel Plaza with 16 Local Government party Chairmen as well as the elected and authentic delegates from all over Ondo State in attendance. Also in attendance at the primary were delegates from the National Secretariat of SDP, INEC officials, press men and security operatives. The difference between our own primary election and the other side was the reality of gulf of difference between live and death.
We have also drawn additional strength from the judgment of Abuja Federal High Court of last week Thursday which asked the two factions of SDP to maintain the status quo. Implication of the court judgment is that the illegally constituted Caretaker Committee in Ondo State is automatically dissolved, while restoration of the State Working Committee is also expected to be get effected automatically.
We have also gone ahead to send the name of our candidate, Alhaji Adekunle Saliu to INEC alongside his completed INEC form and the court summon. While we are awaiting the decision of INEC on the candidate to recognize. We have however already scored a major point by making it impossible for same political merchants to trade with SDP in their usual way of doing their business in the name of our party. The preoccupation of Rep Tajudeen Adefisoye going forward is to put SDP on the right tract of becoming a viable third force.
While awaiting the decision of INEC, we early awaiting the pronouncement of court on which of the two factions of SDP is the authentic one. So, it should not be seen that our clean up quest in SDP has suffered a setback if per chance INEC recognizes any other candidate than ours. Truth is that we are on top of happenings in the SDP.
Without doubt, we have succeeded in our determination to wrestle SDP back from the firm grip of oppressors that have mercilessly oppressed the founders of this party on account of their lean resources. This saddening narrative
has since changed with the deployment of unmatched war chest by Rep Tajudeen Adefisoye since he joined SDP. The era of presenting pretenders in place of contenders for the sole purpose of making money has gone for good in SDP.
At this juncture, the coast is very clear for our governorship candidate, Alhaji Adekunle Saliu to forge ahead with his campaigns. He has a solid backing of the party’s structure from the local government to the national level. Above all, we are absolutely confident that Ondo State chapter of SDP is now in a safe hand and the party’s future can only get better.
Signed :
Richard Adeyemi
Senior Legislative Aide to Rep. Tajudeen Adefisoye
26th July, 2020
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