A political pressure group in Ekiti State, the Ekiti Justice Group, has warned controversial businessman and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Buruji Kasamu to steer clear of the activities of the PDP in Ekiti State.
The group said: “Ekiti people do not associate with fraudsters and people of questionable integrity.”
The National Coordinator of the EJG, Dr. Tunji Oluwasanmi, who gave this warning in a release issued Friday said: “It is shameful that the PDP South West Caretaker Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani could throw away the Ekiti in him and turn himself to Buruji Kasamu’s orderly.
“Isn’t it shameful that meetings of South West Caretaker Committee are now held in Kasamu’s Hotel in Lagos instead of the party’s Zonal secretariat in Ibadan?
“Isn’t it even more shameful that someone of Chief Filani’s standing could throw away his honour and dignity in exchange for Buruji Kasamu’s dirty money?
“To us in EJG, Kasamu’s open relationship with the PDP despite Court ruling dated September 25, 2009 by Judge Charles R. Norgle of the United States District Court in Chicago, Illinois in which the Judge upheld his (Kashamu) indictment by the U.S government on drug trafficking charges and conspiracy to smuggle heroin into the country is a moral burden on the party.
“Or how would the highly civilised and educated people of the South Western Nigeria, especially Ekiti people accept a PDP that has Kashamu, who was described by the U.S government as a drug cartel kingpin and wanted for trial, as its leader in the South-West?
“It has therefore become imperative that we warn Kasamu to leave the PDP in Ekiti State alone.
“If his people in Ogun State can afford to have him as the leader of a political party like the PDP, we in Ekiti will not because we have honour.”
But in a swift reaction, also on Friday, Kashamu, who is a chieftain of the PDP in Ogun State and Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the PDP in the South West, took exception to the attempt to drag him into the crisis rocking the Ekiti State chapter of the party.
He frowned at the comments credited to the Chairman of the PDP in Ekiti State, Makanjuola Ogundipe, that the meeting of the South West Zonal Committee, which lifted the suspension of some members of the party in Ekiti State, including former Governor Ayo Fayose, was held in a hotel belonging to Prince Kashamu instead of the zonal secretariat of the party in Ibadan.
In a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Austin Oniyokor, Kashamu wondered why he would leave his busy schedule to bother himself over where the zonal leadership of the party holds its meetings.
He said: “I am not a member of the South West Zonal Committee. I was neither at its meeting nor was I privy to the agenda of the meeting. Hence, it is utterly ridiculous and reckless of Ogundipe to cast aspersion on my person – all in the name of politics.”
Kashamu advised Ogundipe to address the issues against him in a mature and responsible way, rather than cast aspersions on his person.
Kashamu added: “God is my witness that I am not involved in the Ekiti State PDP crisis. Notwithstanding, if there is a problem in an organisation, it should be the responsibility of the elders and various organs of that organisation to wade into the matter and find an amicable resolution. I am for the good of the PDP – and the good of all.”
Trending
- Biafra Heroes Day: IPoB forewarns UNIZIK, WAEC to postpone convocation, exam slated for May 30th
- Dana Air staff protest ‘unjust’ dismissal from work, non-payment of salaries
- Constitution Reforms: Anyaoku-led group, The Patriots to embark on nationwide advocacy for new democratic constitution for Nigeria
- Father of Lagos Speaker, Obasa, dies at 83
- Church General Overseer evicts estranged wife, six children
- US-based Nigerian doctor, Hokehe Eko, initiates virtual clinic for children with autism
- Bank staff docked for allegedly stealing company’s N7.3m
- Nigerian lady sets another Guinness World Record with ‘wildest wig’