The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Deji Doherty and State Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, recently clashed over the former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose’s comment against the former National Deputy Chairman Chief Olabode George.
Newsflash247 had earlier reported that Fayose had during the inauguration of the PDP Campaign Committee for the Lagos-East senatorial by-election on Tuesday, reportedly advised the party to send its former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George, on “political retirement”.
According to a statement by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, titled ‘Lagos PDP must retire Bode George to make progress”, Fayose said such would help the party to make progress and win elections in Lagos State.
But the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Taofik Gani, on Sunday, gave a seven-day ultimatum to former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose to apologise for what it described as his deliberate unwarranted vituperation on party elders.
It alleged that the former governor had incited party youths against PDP elders, particularly former National Deputy Chairman Chief Olabode George.
Other party elders in the Southwest include Senator Yinka Omilani, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Chief Yemi Farombi, Senator Alabi, Clement Awoyelu and Senator Olofintuyi.
Taofik Gani said in a statement that Fayose will be declared a persona non grata in the activities of the chapter, unless he desists from offering divisive advice.
He said PDP should regard Fayose as a jester because the candidates he had dismissed in recent times, including Senator Biodun Olujimi and Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, later triumphed at the polls.
Gani described the former governor as an agent provocateur in politics, adding that his activities are inimical to the advancement of Southwest PDP.
He said Fayose is “indeed a disgrace and a negative role model to the younger ones.”
Gani stressed: “We are nearing very important elections in the state to take us into winning Lagos State in the 2023 general election. We need togetherness and complementary efforts of the old, young, male and female.
“It is thus shocking that a supposed leader will come to our state to ‘tear’ us apart, rather than give positive and progressive uniting advice to us. We will hold Fayose responsible for any future election loss in Lagos State and indeed the Southwest.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of PDP in Lagos State, Deji Doherty, has disowned a statement credited to the party, giving Fayose seven days to retract his comment against Chief George.
He said at no time did the State Working Committee meet to take such a decision and authorise such a statement.
Doherty, an engineer, said yesterday that Publicity Secretary Gani must have made such a statement from a beer parlour because no responsible state chapter of the party, including the Lagos chapter, can insult Fayose, who is loved across board.
The chairman said, Fayose being a two-time Governor of Ekiti State, a former chairman of the PDP Governors forum, an individual who speaks his mind without bias, and most of all an important guest at our Lagos East Campaign Council Day Inauguration is always welcomed unhindered in Lagos state.
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