PDP group warns Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan

A group within the Osun PeoplesDemocratic Party, Platform for Equity and Justice, has warned President Goodluck Jonathan not to impose any governorship aspirant on the party ahead of the upcoming governorship election in the state.

An email issued by the party on Friday, called on the President to be neutral in the tussle for the party’s governorship ticket, saying that imposition was against the tenets of the party.

An aspirant in the Osun governorship election coming up later in the year, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, said on Thursday that President Goodluck Jonathan asked him to contest the election.

Signed by its coordinator, Mr. Godwin Akesan, the group said imposition of any candidate would destroy the peace and unity currently being enjoyed within the party.

The statement said, “Let all the aspirants participate in a free and fair primary. Imposition will destroy the fragile peace within the party.

“Our President is a respecter of the rule of law. We know he will not be a party to the alleged imposition plot being hatched by some people, who are using the name of the President to authenticate their ambition.”

A statement by the Director, Media and Publicity, Isiaka Adeleke Campaign Organisation, Mr. Taiwo Akeju, on Friday said, “Nobody is dropping the name of the President for electoral favour but the truth must be told that Osun people are earnestly yearning for Adeleke. Go to Osun and ask and see things for yourself.

“Adeleke has integrity, credibility, experience and he cuts across all the socio-political strata of the state. This is why concerned stakeholders have decided to draft him to contest. Adeleke is an appealing brand.”

When contacted on Friday, the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, said the party had not received any information from the Presidency signifying that Adeleke had the blessing of the President to contest the election.

Olaoluwa said, “We don’t have such information from the Presidential Villa, Abuja. We don’t have such information from PDP national headquarters in Abuja. If there would be a consensus, all the aspirants and stakeholders would have to agree and have an affirmation.”