The Lagos State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party PDP ably led by Engr Adedeji Doherty has vehemently refuted the news making the rounds that it had endorsed Amb Taofeek Arapaja a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State and a new entrant into the Party as the next National Vice Chairman South West in the forthcoming Southwest Zonal Congress elections.
The spokesperson of the Lagos State Chairman, Olukayode Onasanya made this known while speaking to Journalists in Ikeja yesterday the 11th of March 2021.
He said that it was the Chief Olabode George group that endorsed Amb Taofeek Arapaja and not the State Executive Committee nor the other Loyal Elders and Leaders of the party who apparently are in the majority.
He said it should have been evidently clear to Amb Arapaja after evaluating the attendance at both venues he visited in the state while on his campaign tour.
Onasanya however, released a rebuttal statement on behalf of the State Chairman.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to statements being made by uninformed self seeking individuals in the party concerning the visitation of Amb Arapaja, a Southwest Vice Chairmanship aspirant in the forthcoming Zonal Congress”.
“The Lagos State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) under the Chairmanship of Engr Adedeji Doherty hereby categorically states that it was not officially notified, invited or made aware of the visitation of the said aspirant and hence couldn’t have endorsed him either on his own as Chairman or on behalf of State Leaders or the State Exco.”
“We would like to put it on record that, the aspirant or his representatives in the state neither communicated or discussed in any way or manner with the state executive or elders of the party about his intended visitation to Lagos”.
“We believe that he (Arapaja) is a man or rather was a man who believes in protocol and we assume he should know the right protocols, when it comes to State Visitations.”
“This abnormality we believe must have been the mistake of his campaign handlers which is regrettable.”
“Hence, we hereby wish to notify the NWC that, Lagos State PDP would never run foul of the constitution of the party, especially when it involves the supremacy of the party at any level.”
“We however like to seize this opportunity to ask the NWC to ensure a free, fair and credible election into the various offices during the upcoming Zonal Congress.”
“We also wish to state categorically that we do not have any personal grouse or friction with the former deputy governor as evident in our show of support to him and other returnees during the last unity rally in Ibadan.”
“We however, strongly believe that the former deputy governor’s advisers have run foul of the constitution and have clearly shown that they are ready to undermine the supremacy of the party in Lagos and other respective states in the SouthWest.”
“Suffice to state that, other aspirants have been to Lagos State and they had all duly notified the state executive committee of their intention to visit through the Office of the State Chairman.”
“We however want to take this opportunity to wish the Deputy Governor goodluck in his sudden pursuit for this position in the SouthWest.”
“It is noteworthy to state that Amb Arapaja should have taken time to study the situation in the party he jettisoned at some point and also should have learnt from the mistakes he must have made from his disappointing experiences during his sojourn in both the Accord, APC and finally the ADC which definitely made him retrace his steps back to the PDP.”
“We also wish to put it on record that, he should know that if anyone leaves the party the way and time he did, it will only be honorable for that person to study and reintegrate him or herself back into the party quietly rather than being convinced to be part of a failed palace coup.”
“It is our very strong belief that, these acts as portrayed by Amb Arapaja has only given him away as a person who if given the opportunity, would be a factional Vice Chairman and this would not go down well with majority of our patriotic and loyal members.”
“Finally, the Lagos State PDP under the Chairmanship of Engr Adedeji Doherty states clearly that it would not support the positioning of a new entrant who willfully dumped and flagrantly disregarded the party and its loyal members at its time of need and who also at some point gathered others to destroy the party while some labored to keep it intact.”
“We would therefore, never jettison those who have proven themselves as passionate and loyal members of the party at this critical time.”
“The Lagos State Chairman hereby calls on other executive members, delegates and leaders of the party in Lagos, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and Ogun states to come together in one accord to ensure that the mistake made in the past does not repeat it self.”
“As a former Organising Secretary of the zone, a former financial secretary of the zone and as a former acting vice Chairman of the zone, the Lagos State Chairman would like to use this medium to call on all delegates to the SouthWest congress and members of the party to rise up and put their weight behind one of our own and those who have proven to be passionate, loyal, resourceful and selfless members of the party in the SouthWest with proven integrity, doggedness and righteousness.”
“The caps fit no other persons than Dr Eddy Olafeso and his team who have proven themselves worthy at various points even under treacherous regimes that tried to strangulate the party during the dark days of the Former National Chairman Amadu Sheriff.”
“Once again we in the Lagos State PDP, hereby state in very clear terms that we have not in any way endorsed Amb Taofeek Arapaja”.
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