Trouble Looms In Kwara PDP Over Leadership Tussle •Bola Shagaya, Ajibola battle for supremacy A major crisis appears imminent in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State in the midst of intense struggle for the control of the party machinery. PDP in the state was until recently led by former Governor Bukola Saraki, now a Senator. He pulled out of the party, not long ago, following differences with the national leadership and moved into the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with his supporters. According to party sources, Saraki’s defection to APC created a chance for the emergence of factions in the PDP who are now struggling to assume leadership of the party. The sources also said there was an ongoing struggle to retrieve the soul of the party from the iron grip of Bola Shagaya, until recently a businesswoman reputed to have the backing of President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, Patience. Those opposed to Shagaya’s role in the party believe she wields so much power because of her closeness to the seat of power at the centre, despite not being known to be a politician. She was the Chief Host at the reception of the President during his recent visit to Kwara State – a development believed to have angered old party members and supporters of Simeon Ajibola – the only serving Senator in the state to remain in the PDP. Again, Shagaya was alleged to have selected members of the state delegation that visited the President at the Aso Rock Villa on Tuesday, leaving out key members of the party. Regardless, a female leader of the party from Kwara South, Sola Adedoyin, told Daily Independent that “Bola Shagaya is my friend, and she has told me that she is not a politician, and I’ll like to believe her; she has used her influence very well for the party, and we appreciate this”. She noted that the PDP in Kwara State recognises Ajibola as a leader, along with Lanre Ogundeji, Bode Ojumu, among others. She explained that the party had been praying for freedom from imposition and looking forward to bringing all the zones into a common front. Adedoyin expressed hopes that the expectations of the party would be realised soon. Adedoyin’s explanation was supported by Ojumu, who insisted that the role Shagaya has been playing was informed by the fact that she is a stakeholder in the state as well as a friend to the nation’s first family. “Whatever role she (Shagaya) is playing at the moment is transitory; she does not intend to take over the leadership of the party: there is a caretaker committee headed by Hon. Solomon Edoja in place; so, members of the party should be patient,” Ojumu said. Daily Independent was unable to get Shagaya’s views on the issue – she claimed to be in a meeting but said she would answer text messages. Her response did not come up to press time last night. Kwara PDP has been a hotbed of national politics lately since the defection of Saraki and the visit of Jonathan to the state. It is believed that there is a struggle among factions of the party attempting to occupy the position vacated by the former Governor. There are also reports that the senatorial zones in the state are in a veiled contest for dominance. Daily Independent was informed that the general concern in the party at the moment is that the turn of events may lead to another gale of defections, which could place the fate of the party in 2015, as well as that of Jonathan’s ambition, in a precarious position.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:23:22 +0000
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