Appeal Court Ruling: Victory For All – Otunba Segun Adewale
The Lagos State Chairman of the People Democratic party (PDP) Otunba Segun Adewale (Aeroland )has described last week Friday’s court of appeal ruling in Port Harcourt in favour of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff led executive of the PDP as a victory for democracy and the end of impunity in the party.
He said the Appeal Court has finally returned the PDP to the people with the decision to uphold the constitution of the party by affirming the leadership of Sen Ali Modu Sheriff as the legitimate National Chairman of the PDP
“The affirmation of Sen Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic National Chairman of the PDP is not just a victory to those of us that believes in his leadership but a victory to the grassroots members of the PDP that now have a voice. It is also a victory to our Democratic institutions, the rebirth of a formidable opposition which will definitely engender the delivery of good governance and bring end to the impunity of the ruling APC government.
“This victory by all intent and purpose signals an end to the era of impunity, disregard to our Party constitution and blatant egocentric behavior of some individuals that have virtually turned the Party into their private estate. All these clogs in the wheels of progress of our great party is what Senator Sheriff seeks to end and that is what this victory has ensured”. Adewale said.
It will be recalled that Senators Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff led factions have tested their claim to the leadership of the party in courts in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, resulting in many contradictory court orders and directives with the attendant effect on the unity of the party.
In his congratulatory message to the National Chairman of the PDP, Adewale acknowledged that Sheriff deserves the victory, describing him as the hope of the common man in the Party.
In his words, “Let me use this golden opportunity to appreciate immensely the relentless effort and passion of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff towards securing an enduring future for ordinary members of our party. Without doubt, his resolve to ensure grassroots participation in decision making within the party is the most assured way of building an enduring political party structure. His doggedness in safeguarding the party from being hijacked by a few overambitious individuals seeking to run our affairs as their private estate is equally highly appreciated.
“I hereby plead with our National Executive Committee and all well-meaning leaders of our Party never to get weary nor be discouraged until their laudable vision of reconciling every aggrieved members of the party under a single umbrella is achieved. It is pertinent that I acknowledge the outstanding commitment of our National Chairman to the ongoing reconciliation process. However, until all members of the party are fully integrated, the job cannot be said to have been completed.
“It is crystal clear that Nigerians are anxiously looking up to the Peoples Democratic Party for solutions to the present economic holocausts ravaging the Nation. Nigerians are regretting the monumental error of voting a visionless party into power, a party that has subjected Nigerians to an unprecedented hunger. Without any fear of contraction, APC has failed Nigerians woefully, posterity will therefore not forgive us, as the last hope of a common man if we fail to bury our differences and rise up collectively to the challenges of rescuing the Nation from this APC confusion. TheNation is in serious danger if left in the hands of this incompetent politicians that are obviously mismanaging our common heritage”.
Adewale also reacted to the news that some members of the Lagos State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the PDP have defected to the ruling APC. He said the Party will use every available legal means to reclaim its mandate from the affected members. “These are people not known to their constituencies before they were presented by our Party as candidates in the 2015 elections. Yes, they are within their constitutional right of association to determine which political party they will belong but they are also constitutional bond to drop our mandate once they are no longer comfortable with the Party ideologies and manifestos. However, as a law abiding Political Party that believes in the rule of law as demonstrated with the Port Harcourt victory, we will challenge their action in Court until justice is served”
He urged all members to support the national chairman in his mission to reposition the party while congratulating notable leaders of the PDP in the Southwest for their selfless and unwavering support for the National Chairman in upholding the course of Justice and building a formidable grassroots based PDP.