A zonal meeting called by the Osun Peoples Democratic Party ended in tragedy on Saturday, when the Chairman of the party in Boluwaduro Local Government Council, Mr. Raimi Awoleye, slumped and eventually died.A source said the meeting was set to adopt a report by the Truth and Reconciliation Panel set up by the state executive of the party to look into the crises besetting the party and provide solutions.The meeting, however, ended abruptly when Awoleye suddenly slumped and started gasping for breath at the crowded residence of the National Vice Chairman of South-West PDP, Mr. Taju Oladipo.Some of the leaders at the meeting included former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Senator Iyiola Omisore, first executive Governor of Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke; former Speaker, Mrs Foluke Etteh; a former National Vice Chairman (South), Shauib Oyedokun; a former Osun Speaker, Adejare Bello; a former Minister of Transport, Ebenezer Babatope.Also present were the Osun PDP leader, Abiola Ogundokun, Dr. Olu Alabi, Akinade Akinbade, Dosu Ladipo, Mrs. Remi Wilson, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, Lere Oyewunmi, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Niyi Owolade, among others.Investigations showed that a faction within the party had stormed Taju Oladipos residence, which served as the venue of the meeting, to stall the adoption of the report.It was gathered that the faction, which has the backing of a former senator from Ife-Ijesa senatorial district, was opposed to the removal of the acting state Chairman of PDP, Chief Sunday Ojo-Williams.But a vast majority of the party was in support of the dissolution of the Ojo-Williams-led executive on the basis that it was biased and could lead the party to the incoming congress when Ojo-Williams would contest as state chairman.Apprehension and grief seized the meeting when reports later filtered in that Awoleye, who was rushed out of the meeting to an undisclosed hospital, had died.The report of the TRP, which had as its chairman, veteran broadcaster and former Chairman, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, called for the dissolution of the current state executive of the party headed by Chief Sunday Ojo-Williams, who is operating in acting capacity.It will be recalled that the PDP National Executive Council, the Osun PDP elders committee and the state working committee did not accept the resignation of the former state Chairman, Chief Ademola Rasak, who stepped aside when the Action Congress of Nigeria took reins of power on November 26, 2010.A faction loyal to Rasak, who is popularly called Landero, said he (Rasak) remained the chairman of the party in Osun State.Reacting to the incident, Ojo-Williams said, There was no crisis at the meeting. They were all singing when the council chairman slumped. He was jubilant and was among those singing when he slumped, was rushed to the hospital and died.Ojo-Williams, who said the meeting was called by the zonal PDP leadership, added that the three committees inaugurated by the Osun PDP had submitted their reports.A chieftain of the party, who chose to speak on condition of anonymity, said, The Osun PDP will continue to suffer defeat from the hands of the Osun Action Congress of Nigeria if the leadership that led us to a colossal defeat in the last general election is retained.We need fresh blood in the party. An acting chairman, who is contesting in the next congress cannot lead the party to the congress; he must resign in order to create a level playing ground for all contestants.
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