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Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and stakeholders in the South West have cut ties Senator Buruji Kashamu, who represents Ogun East Senatorial District.
The zonal leadership also directed the leadership of the party in Ogun State to stop all dealings and meetings with Kashamu and his agents until further notice.
The zonal leaders made the declaration at the end of a meeting which held at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital where they discussed and took decisions on important issues affecting the progress of the PDP in Southwest.
The meeting had in attendance leaders of the party from the Southwest states of Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos.
Kashamu is a former Chairman, National Mobilization Committee of the party.
PDP leaders who attended the meeting include Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose; a former Deputy National Chairman, South, Chief Bode George; former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former deputy governor of Osun state, Sen. Iyiola Omisore; Dr. Saka Balogun; Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin; Elder Wole Oyelese and a former Southwest Zonal Chairman, Alh. Tajudeen Oladipo.
Others include a former Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, Sen. Hosea Agboola, Sen. Ayo Adeseun, Barr. Lowo Obisesan, Babatunde Oduyoye, Lekan Opadokun and Engr. Femi Babalola.
The leaders, who condemned what it described as Kashamu’s “destabilizing and anti-party activities’ also called for disciplinary actions against him for his roles in the electoral loss of the party in Ogun, Ondo and Edo states.
They also condemned and regretted the action and ignoble role of some of its members that led to the unfortunate experience and trauma that held the entire party down for over a year now and prayed God to prevent a recurrence.
Welcoming the leaders to the meeting, the Zonal Chairman, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, expressed joy over the party’s victory at the Supreme Court which upheld the Markafi faction of the party, assuring that the PDP’s strength was back in the region, adding that it would remain stronger.
Chairman of PDP Governor’s Forum, Ayodele Fayose, at the forum, expressed optimism that the party would win elections soon. He noted that Nigerians were already tired of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) and maintained that the people must be protected because many Nigerians are already frustrated.
While expressing dismay at the decision not to take him to London on a visit to see President Muhammadu Buhari, Fayose said it happened because the ruling party knew that he would come back to tell Nigerians the true state of health of the President.
He called on leaders of PDP to join hands to reposition the party while also urging the party members to be determined to support one another so that the party can move to the next level.
Fayose, who accused Sen. Kashamu of being responsible for the challenges confronting the party in the Southwest from inception, called on the state party leaders to take charge of their states and disallow people from hijacking the party from them.
He said: “All people that are destabilizing the peace in PDP, we must sanction them. Nobody is greater that this party. If you call yourself a leader and you are waging war against it, definitely you are an enemy of the party.
“So, our meeting resolved that we don’t want him again in our party. We are not ready to have anything to do with him again. We have directed all the states to stay clear from him.”
While responding to questions on his ambition for 2019, Fayose said: “It is my right to be President of Nigeria as a citizen of this country. I am educated and I have experience in politics. I am vast in public administration. The people want me. I will vie for the presidency under whatever circumstance. I will contest and I will prioritize the interest of the people.
“In fact, I will declare my ambition for the office of the President on October 1.
“We voted for APC and Buhari to give us good governance. They failed to give us good governance. So we will drive them out of power. The people want a person that will give them good governance. The people want comfort. Nigerians are hungry and are suffering and they don’t want to suffer again. We have to send them packing come 2019.”
A communique issued at the end of the meeting reads in part: “The Zonal Leadership also hereby condemns and regrets the action and ignoble role of some of its membership that led to the unfortunate experience and trauma that held the entire party down for over a year now and pray that may such never recur again in our great party
“The entire Southwest leadership and stakeholders condemn the destabilizing and anti-party activities of Senator Buruji Kashamu and demand disciplinary actions against him for his roles in the loss of the party in Ogun, Ondo and Edo states.
“The zonal leadership and stakeholders hereby dissociate the zone from the activities of Senator Buruji Kashamu and resolve further to henceforth desist from dealing with him in any capacity in the zone, and the leadership of the party in Ogun state is hereby directed to stop all dealings and meetings involvement with Senator Buruji Kashamu and his agents until further notice
“The Zonal Leadership and stakeholders also hereby reject any association whatsoever with Senator Buruji Kashamu henceforth
“It is hereby resolved that a special committee be set up at the zonal and national level to reach out and appeal to all those who have left the party as a result of the disruptive and destructive activities and acts of sabotage visited upon the party”