Former Governor of Osun state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola on Thursday kicked against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s move to expel him, saying it will not stand.
The Umaru Dikko-led Disciplinary Committee has recommended Oyinlola’s expulsion alongside Abubakar Baraje and Sam Sam Jaja from the party.
But Oyinlola, who is still laying claim to the position of the National Secretary of the ruling party, relying on Court of Appeal judgment, insisted “nobody can build something on nothing; or falsehood on truth’’.
His Principal Secretary, Femi Adelegan in a statement issued in Abuja, Oyinlola asserted that the Disciplinary Committee does not exist by virtue of the fact that its composition was not ratified by the National Executive Committee of the PDP which is statutorily empowered to approve the composition of the body.
According to him, “They really worked to the answer” and with great speed in their feverish ambition of getting rid of Oyinlola before the hearing of the suit filed by Baraje, Oyinlola, Sam Jaja and Kazaure at an Abuja Federal High Court, challenging the validity of illegalities committed’’.
The statement added that indeed, no sane or decent person would be surprised at the recommendations of the illegally constituted Disciplinary Committee, which from the outset, shouldered a heavy burden of legitimacy, integrity, lack of respect for fair play, principles of natural justice and the Rule of Law.
It is patently clear, that the Dikko Committee acted under questionable circumstances as if the PDP were a mere mechanical contraption that could be manipulated without respect for laid down rules and regulations.
Adelegan, added that the pronouncement of the Dikko Committee is a comical show of the absurd that could only erode whatever remains of the credibility of anybody who decides to circumvent regulations and rebuff a Law court.
The statement also stated that the party has again demonstrated its disdain for the Judiciary by spurning court processes and the notification of our counsel, Mr. Awa Kalu, SAN, intimating the party with the pendency of a suit, challenging the existence of the Disciplinary Committee and actions of the National Working Committee in court, on the grounds that the Dikko Committee is illegal and that Oyinlola, Baraje, Jaja and Kazaure were not given a fair hearing by the NWC in a manner that also demonstrates disrespect for the principle of natural justice.
It is very unfortunate that major stakeholders have pretended for too long, as if all is well with the PDP as party members who stand for the truth are being vilified. Those who are familiar with the antics of preachers of dialogue and reconciliation at the national headquarters of PDP, from where discordant tunes are sounding, would smell insincerity in their media statements’’.
“For the sake of our great country, it would be appropriate to call on all citizens to ensure that the principles of natural justice and other basic human rights are safeguarded in our march towards a stable democratic polity. If it happens that organizations and enlightened citizens that should ideally champion the cause of respect for the Judiciary and the Rule of Law, would turn out to be those deliberately engaging in acts tantamount to disrespect for our law courts, the consequences could be grave for the polity and are better imagined than witnessed’’.
“On my part, in recognition of the need to follow due process and pursue the path of peace, civility and moral rectitude, I will continue to seek remedy at the law courts to protect my God-ordained and fundamental human rights, as a law-abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Therefore, I ask that my teeming associates and well-wishers be not perturbed as a result of the latest development, but pray ceaselessly for PDP and our dear nation,” Oyinlola stated.
