Senator Buruji Kashamu may have thrown in the
towel in the battle that centers on who the legitimate governorship candidate
of PDP in Ogun state is. The controversial senator had locked horns with member
of the House of Representatives, Honorable Ladi Adebutu over who flies the flag
of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state as the governorship candidate in
the coming general elections.
While the national leadership of the party led by Uche Secondus endorsed the
candidacy of Adebutu and insisted the order of expulsion served on Kashamu
remained effective, the Senator approached an Abeokuta High Court that ruled in
his favor, declaring the primary election that produced Adebutu as a nullity.
In a counter move however, the pro-Adebutu national leadership of the party
filed an appeal against the orders of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, which
enforced the subsisting judgment of the court in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/636/2016.
The Court of Appeal in Ibadan ruled in favor of Adebutu as in its ruling, set
aside the order by the Federal High Court in Abeokuta upholding Kashamu as the
party’s candidate.
Despite the court ruling, Kashamu
went to town, insisting he had not been ousted as the Ogun State Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate. From his latest move that saw
him assumed the path of peace by pledging to work with Adebutu, pundits say it’s
not impossible Kashamu had seen the handwriting on the wall that his effort battling
to fly Ogun PDP governorship flag might eventually end in futility, hence, he
decided to thread softly.
Statement credited to the
controversial law maker read thus. “It is true we are in court. But, we
are hopeful that the issues will be resolved sooner than later. However, in the
overall interest of the party, it is better and wiser for us to work together
as members of the same family pending the resolution of the issues in court. We
may have had our disagreements and issues, and have submitted them to the court
for adjudication; yet, we have been talking to one another.”
“We reckon that whichever way it
goes, the court cannot bring about genuine reconciliation and peace. So, we
have resolved to be agents of peace and reconciliation. Let us put aside our
ego, prejudices and personal interests, and work together for the Party – in
the hope that whoever carries the day will work for the Party, its members and
the generality of the people.”
“It is in the light of the foregoing
that I wish to formally and publicly direct all my leaders, elders and supporters
to work with the Lado group within the Ogun State chapter of the PDP ahead of
February 16 and March 2, 2019 elections. Irrespective of our differences, we
are members of the same family. At the end, it is the party that wins; not any
individual or group.”
