“PDP’s Disciplinary Committee is Unlawful ” – Oyinlola
The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has stated that as a law abiding member of the PDP and free citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he will not be an accomplice or accessory to constitutional violations, considering especially the fact that he swore to an oath of office stipulating that he will respect and protect the grund norm of the PDP in his capacity as the custodian of the seal of the party.
The reaction, which is contained in a statement released in Abuja today said that Prince Oyinlola is conscious of the provisions of the PDP constitution which states without any equivocation that ‘’ nominations to membership of the Disciplinary Committee at the national level shall be ratified by the National Executive Council of the PDP’’. In effect, Oyinlola, as a law abiding member of the PDP is not aware of the composition of any disciplinary panel that is not ratified or known to the National Executive Committee of the PDP’’.
‘’This reaction, itself is being made out courtesy for the media and its right to be inform and informed as Oyinlola has not received any correspondence from any quarters and would not honour any invitation from any illegal body since that would amount to violating the constitution of the party. As individuals and elders, the PDP National Secretary has great respect for the members of the NWC committee that is, however, not recognised by the PDP constitution which stipulates that the party’s NEC is the statutory body to approve the composition of a disciplinary body at the national level’’.
‘’It is important to stress that the first meeting of NEC of PDP, which is statutorily expected to be a quarterly affair, deliberated on the composition of NEC but never agreed on its membership at the meeting. I am also sure that the second NEC meeting, out of the 7 meetings that ought to have been held statutorily by the present NWC did not also agree on the membership of any Disciplinary Committee’’. It is rather funny, illogical and antithetical to democratic conducts, for the NWC that has consistently denigrated the Judiciary, the Constitution of the PDP, and even the extant grund norm of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to be talking about discipline and internal party democracy, when it has continued to show disregard for the Rule of Law, and fundamental human rights.
All these could only indicate indecent political behaviour and lack of accountability and integrity as the party’s spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh, who in his interview with the Sun Newspaper of Tuesday November 19, 2013, was quoted as saying ‘’if you didn’t commit the act, the party will not suspend you’’ has stated the position of the NWC to summarily accuse and judge Oyinlola and others’’. Metuh’s reaction, clearly gives cause for concern about their true commitment to democracy’’.
‘’I wish to re-assert that I will NEVER compromise illegalities and destructive tendencies that border on the culture of impunity, tyranny and oppression, that could be interpreted as the hallmark of dictatorship. This is indeed the time for introspection and protection of the PDP from descent into anarchy‘’. If these people truly mean well, they would have taken the pains to examine the causes and effects of occurrences that are fragmenting the PDP instead of further adopting measures designed to put the PDP into disrepute’’. I was removed by Justice Kafarati on January 11, 2013, and vacated office immediately; as a politician with honour, respect for the Rule of Law, and a second address’’.
Between January and August, 2013, I took steps to dialogue with the national leader, His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan and communicated my grievances to him in writing a couple of times; I made representations to the Chief Tony Anenih Committee; I submitted a memorandum to the PDP Governors Panel headed by His Excellency, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema; consulted with the Prof. Jerry Gana Committee; and also had informal consultations with the Governor Seriake Dickson’s Reconciliation Committee through Chief Dosu Fatokun and agreed to meet with the committee; among other moves to find an amicable solution to my persecution and illegal removal from office’’. Yet, they have continued to trail Oyinlola with rabid and unimaginable downbeat intentions’’. I pray that history will be merciful in judgement to all actors in this saga; and that some people will refrain from continuing to take actions that would enter their names on the negative pages of history’’.