The Ekiti State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, in this interview with FEMI MAKINDE, denies claims made by former governor Ayo Fayose, who was recently suspended from the party
Do you think the current crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State will be resolved before the forthcoming governorship election in the state?
The crisis will be resolved soon. I mean very soon. The party at the national level will take a position on the matter and I'm very sure that the crisis won't affect our preparations for the governorship election. The party will make its position known. Nobody is above the law in the PDP. Indiscipline is dangerous and it must be stopped. If the party refuses to sanction an undisciplined member, others will follow in the same direction and the party will be punished for it.
Fayose said his suspension would lead to the end of the PDP in Ekiti State. How do you react to this?
The suspension of Fayose and others will not have any negative effect on the PDP. In fact, the suspension will make the people of the state and other members of the party know that the PDP is now more serious than ever. The PDP is waxing stronger and there is nothing stopping us from winning back the state in 2014. We will defeat the Action Congress of Nigeria-led government of Governor Kayode Fayemi. We will defeat them easily because the party has not done anything in the last three years and the people have seen that ACN has nothing good for them.
Recently, hoodlums invaded your party secretariat and injured some leaders. What led to this?
The invasion of the party secretariat is unfortunate and highly regretted. After a careful study and thorough investigation, the party has come to the following conclusion: That the transformation agenda of the Federal Government under our leader, President Goodluck Jonathan, will not be allowed to be rubbished by anybody, no matter how highly placed. That PDP is a disciplined party, therefore we will not tolerate insubordination from any individual for whatever reason. Conclusively and consequently, the State Working Committee of the party met and do hereby in exercise of its powers, suspended the following members indefinitely until they face disciplinary committee: Mr. Ayodele Fayose, a governorship aspirant; Mr. Tope Aluko, former state Secretary; Mr. Kola Oluwawole, former Publicity Secretary and for now, Mrs. Busola Oyebode, former Women Leader.
But some of the executives had earlier suspended you as the chairman.
We are a law-abiding people and the constitution of our party is very clear on who can suspend and who can be suspended. Article 21 (9) of our party specifies who are members of the National Executive Committee of our party. All state chairmen are members of the National Executive Committee of our party. No organ of the party can suspend them unless the National Executive Committee. Article 21 (9): "No disciplinary committee at any level except the national disciplinary committee shall impose any punishment provided under article where punishments are stated or the constitution arising from any disciplinary decision of any person named in Sub-section 21(9) of this constitution, that is the members of the National Executive Committee (NEC)."
So, anybody sitting down in Ado Ekiti saying that he is suspending a NEC member is just joking. This is exactly what my deputy said. It then means that that person is either mischievous or has not gone through the constitution of our party and this is not an excuse for him not to be punished. So, I am not going to talk about suspension or no suspension because I just left the national headquarters of our party and they still recognise me as their own chairman and the foot soldier of our party in Ekiti State.
Will you still go ahead with the Consensus Screening Committee, which seems to be crux of the crisis?
We are going forward to do what is necessary to move this party forward. We have nine months to election. Any serious-minded person will know that when Mr. President says something, it is a law. Consensus is a democratic way of choosing a leader. You can't be talking of another method now. Do you know the number of people that make up the PDP in Ekiti State? Our constitution clearly says that it is only at the ward level that every card-carrying member of the party participates in a congress. From there on, you have to select people. And that is the beginning of consensus.
With your insistence on a consensus arrangement it seems you are afraid of the possible outcome of a primary election.
We are not afraid of primary. Consensus is not imposition.
But it seems you have a particular aspirant you are working for with this consensus arrangement. Is this not true?
I don't have any particular aspirant in mind. What we are doing is in the interest of the party and the interest of the people of Ekiti State. We want a candidate who is generally acceptable to the people, who is competent, credible and who will win the governorship election. We are not just looking for a governorship candidate but the next governor of Ekiti State. My interest is that the PDP wins the state so that we can truly develop the state in-line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Did you collect N5m from an aspirant as some have insinuated as the genesis of the crisis?
The genesis of the crisis is far from what they are saying. With time, you will know the genesis of the crisis. No, I did not collect N5m. There is no N5m on the table and there is no basis for me to collect N5m from anybody. It is so cheap for me to collect N5m as the chairman of the greatest party in Africa. Some people tell lies as their stock-in-trade. I am an honourable person and I have told all of them 'don't come to my house, don't go to the deputy chairman's house because he is also an aspirant.' So, I've not made myself available to the aspirants because what we are doing is a serious business and by the time I collect money from aspirants, who will I support?
Fayose said you demanded a brand new 2013 Range Rover from him in exchange for the governorship ticket. How true is that?
I never demanded any vehicle from Fayose or anybody. I have neither demanded money nor anything to favour any of the aspirants. I'm a man of honour and I'm not hungry. I have vehicles and I cannot drive two vehicles at the same time. He was suspended and he never believed he could be suspended by the party. But what we are saying is that this is a new PDP, there must be discipline. We are not here to oppress or suppress anybody but I was elected to lead the party aright and that is exactly what I am doing. He lied. I never demanded anything from him or anybody.
Are you saying Fayose, a former governor, is telling lies against you?
This man is a pathological liar and it is unfortunate that he can go to this extent to blackmail me. It is really sad that he has resorted to using blackmail. Everybody knows his character.
Be specific, what was the exact offence Fayose committed to warrant the suspension?
We have investigated thoroughly and we have taken the contribution of every member and we digested them very clearly. By the time he faces the disciplinary committee, he will know. Of course, he will exonerate himself. So, we leave that for the committee.
