PDP Leaders Reject Ministers Suspension

THE internal strife within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, which culminated in the suspension of the Minister of Defence, Adetokunbo Kayode, deepened yesterday as several chieftains of the party described the suspension as illegal and of no effect.The Minister was suspended via a release signed by the duo of Dr. Tayo Dairo and Olusola Oludipe, the State Chairman and Secretary respectively. They accused him on anti-party activities.But Kayode, who spoke through an aide, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka, said the decision, which he described as illegal, was taken because of his alleged failure to deploy Army and Naval personnel to assist in rigging the just concluded elections in favour of the PDP.Yesterday, however several chieftains of the party, including the leadership of its youth wing rejected the suspension order on the ground that the decision was not carried out in the interest of the party.They are also urging President Jonathan and the national secretariat of the party to ignore the move.The immediate past Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of the state, Mr. Isaac Kekemeke, said the duo of Dairo and Oludipe did not have the right to suspend the minister over his alleged failure to deploy soldiers to help the party in the election.Speaking in the same vein, another party stalwart, Prince Mike Omogbehin, said: The decision was a very wrong step. It seems that the party leadership was only looking for excuses to justify our failure in the last polls. The fact is that we have a crisis of leadership and it resulted in what befell the party in the last elections.Kekemeke said instead of finding a scapegoat, the executive of the party at the state level should quit and give way for new blood that could reposition the party.
Click here to read full news..