Makarfi’s PDP faction meets in Ekiti, as Fayose demands refund of N10m donation towards Obj’s library

By Doyin Adebusuyi

Leaders of the PDP in the South West geo-political zone loyal to the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi on Monday met in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state, where they expressed support to challenge the Court of Appeal’s ruling that declared Senator Modu Sheriff as the national chairman of the party.

Also at the opening of the meeting, Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose told former President Olusegun Obasanjo to as a matter of urgency return the N10 million donation he made to his library project with interest.

According to the governor, the 30 governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) were compelled to donate N10m each in 2005 to the multibillion naira project, which he described as the greatest fraud ever.

Some of the party leaders from the geo-political zone at the meeting were the Natioanl Vice Chairman of the party in the south West, Mr. Eddy Olafeso, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Publicity Secretary of the Caretaker committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, ex-deputy governor of Lagos state, Mrs. Akerele Bucknor and the Speaker of Ekiti state House of Assembly, Kola Oluwawole.

Others includeChief Bode George, ex-governor of Ogun state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Deputy Governor of Ekiti, Dr. olusola Kolapo, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, the chairman of PDP loyal to Fayose, Mr. Gboyega Ofuntuase, his counterpart in Osun, Bayo Faforiji and Engr Clement Faborede (Ondo).

While challenging members of the party to come out of timidity and speak out against alleged intimidation by agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Fayose predicted that God will soon move against those that are oppressing the PDP members in the country by declaring their seats vacant.

He described the National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff illegal occupant of the chairmanship seat, adding that he would continue to back Makarfi.

In his address, the Publicity Secretary of the Makarfi group, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, he allayed members fear that the faction would lose its appeal at the apex court.

Adeyeye added, “Let me allay your fears, the minority judgment is going to be the final judgment at the end of the day. Already we have secured the services of six SANs to file all necessary papers at the Supreme Court and I’m assuring you that the case is going to be given accelerated hearing.”

In a 6-point communique issued and read by the deputy fovernor of the state, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, the leaders also passed a vote of confidence and support for the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee.

The communique added, “‎The leadership appreciates the doggedness of members of the PDP in the South-West in the face of harassment and intimidation and we implore them not to lose hope as there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“We, PDP leaders and members in the South-West, support the decision of the National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi to challenge Senator Alli Modu Sheirff’s claims to the leadership of the party at the Supreme Court. We are sure that justice will prevail in the end.”

While expressing confidence in the leadership of Governor Ayodele Fayose as the leader of the party in the South-West as well as the Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, the party leaders expressed confidence that they would continue to pursue the ideal of peace and harmony in the South-West and the entire nation in full consultation with leaders and members of the party.

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