AGAGU, DAIRO SUFFER ANOTHER LEGAL DEFEAT AT AKURE COURT

Akure High Court yesterday rejected an application by the embattled leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State seeking to dismiss a suit filed against it by a faction, which suspended it last month.

The Omotayo Dairo-led executive had prayed the court to dismiss a suit filed against it by the Ambassador Olu Agbi-led Interim Executive, which was put in place by opposing party members on the ground that the faction has no locus standi to dissolve a properly constituted executive.

The presiding judge, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi, who delivered the ruling declined and also threw out the application of the Dairo group seeking to stop the suit at the interlocutory stage. An ex parte order restraining Dairo’s State Working Committee (SWC) from functioning in that capacity, which also restrained it from administering the fund of the party pending the hearing of the motion on notice, had earlier been granted by the court.

Counsel to the Dairo group, Adekola Olawoye, had filed a preliminary objection against the order of the court restraining them from functioning in that capacity and prayed the court to strike out or dismiss the suit challenging their continued stay in office.

In his argument, Olawoye said that the plaintiffs have no locus standi to institute the suit and the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the suit and thereby recommended that the case be struck out.
Olawoye who further argued that the court did not have the jurisdiction to entertain the plaintiffs suit because they did not have locus standi to institute the case in the first place, said the suit was not properly constituted and therefore not competent.

The plaintiffs are neither members of the State Executive of the PDP nor authorised by the said party and its National Working Committee, (NWC) and National Executive Committee, (NEC) to institute this action for and on its behalf, he argued.

He said the suit as presently constituted disclosed no reasonable or cause of action against the defendants and the choice of the members of the PDP SEC, when and how they are elected, chosen or administered is the internal affair of the party, which is not subject to the jurisdiction of the court.

But counsels to the plaintiffs led by Mr. Stephen Olemija and Deacon Oluwafemi Balogun posited that the partys constitution applied by the counsel to the defendant is no more in existence as there is a new amended constitution of the party dated 2010 as against that of the year 2006 used by Olawoye.

In his ruling, Justice Kumuyi, who adjourned the hearing of the substantive case to June 23, 2011, affirmed jurisdiction on the suit, rejected the arguments of the Dairo-led executive and aligned with the position of the Interim Management Committee of the party.

OLAIYA ONI,MIMIKO FALL APART OVER MINISTERIAL LIST

Political Tsunami Hits Ondo LP

Olaiya oni,LP Chairman  finally resigns

…Osemawe,Mimiko loyalist panics

Just as the crisis generated by the ministerial list within the Ondo State  Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] is dying down the list has also wrecked havoc in Labour Party[LP] which made the party Chairman, Dr Olaiya Oni to resign his position.

Impeccable source within the party told Sunshine Voice that the ministerial list crisis last week took it’s toll on LP as there was an unresolved disagreement between the party,Chairman,Dr Oni and governor of Ondo State,Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

The source who said he saw the copy of the resignation letter told Sunshine Voice that Dr Olaiya Oni  last week sent his resignation letter to the governor, Dr Olusegu Mimiko informing him of his decision to quit the party.

The source said,Dr Olaiya Oni in his  letter stated that he is quitting the party to save his name as he alleged that  Dr Mimiko has hijacked the running of the party from the state executives.

Dr Oni the source revealed became bitter when he learnt that Dr Mimiko  unilaterally sent  the name of one Mrs Remi Duyile,who is a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora Matters.

The Ise Akoko born party Chairman was said to have got wind of the ministerial list from a very close confidant of the governor who said that Dr Pius Osunyinkanmi,the incumbent Commissioner for Education was grumbling why his name was substituted by  Mr.Governor with that of one Mrs Remi  Duyile as LP ministerial nominee without recourse to the state excos.

This infuriated Dr Oni who went wild making frantic calls to his Aso Rock contacts to confirm the authenticity  of ministerial list sent by Dr Mimiko.

But he was even more bitter and devastated when he was told that Mrs Duyile was Dr Mimiko’s ministerial nominee for LP Ondo State.

There and then Dr Olaiya Oni immediately drafted and sent his resignation letter to the governor copying the Osemawe of Ondo kingdom,Oba Kiladejo alerting the king of his decision to quit LP because of what he called Dr Mimiko’s overbearing nature on the party.

This sent a lot of jitters down the spines of the paramount ruler of Ondo Kingdom who called on some of Dr Mimiko’s confidants and inner caucus members including the First Lady to start putting  pressure on Dr Oni not to make his decision public until they will resolve the crisis amicably between the two of them. .

Finally,after three days the Osemawe was lucky to convince  the embattled Chairman,Dr Oni to reverse his decision not to quit the party but Dr Oni Sunshine Voice learnt said he would accept not to quit only on the condition that the governor must also accept his new terms of preference.

 A six paragraph truce condition was therefore drawn by Dr Oni through  Osemawe to the governor with a warning that any attempt to reject a single line among the conditions he will make public his decision to quit LP.

Further investigation within LP at the time of filing this report revealed that  Dr Oni promised to make his official announcement to the public through the media on Monday.

MIMIKO SETS TO DEAL WITH JIMOH IBRAHIM,...AS ODSG TERMINATES OWENA MOTEL LEASE

Mimiko sets to deal with Jimoh Ibrahim:

… as ODSG terminates Owena Motels Lease

DR OLUSEGUN AGAGU,[FMR GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE]

As you are reading this story the representatives of the Ondo State Government [ODSG] deployed from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry would have finally taken full control of the State owned Five Star Hotel, Owena Motels, Akure  from the NICON Luxury Company, owned by Chief Jimoh Ibrahim.

As at the time of filling this report some,our reporter gathered from some staffers of  NICON Luxury who have been managing the hotels for over three years  hat the state government has refused to extend the lease agreement with their company.

 This abrupt termination of the lease and refusal o extend the  agreement between ODSG  and NICON Luxury Company on the management of Owena Motels Limited, may be  a clear indication that the present administration in the state is set to dael with the Ikale born billionaire.

It would be recalled that NICON Luxury Company, which is one of the numerous firms owned by billionaire politician, Mr. Ibrahim, had an agreement with the state government during the twilight days of Gov. Olusegun Agagu to run the hotel for an initial period of three years, subject to review.

The agreement was signed on May 2, 2008 and it was expected to lapse on May 2, 2011 over two weeks ago which made the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to  direct the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Akin Akingbesote, to put an end to the lease.

 This made the Commissioner to  second a very senior official from the ministry of commerce to Owena Motels o Igbatoro,road,Akure  to act as the receiving manager.

The two party,thst is the NICON Luxury team ad the State government officials are already taking stocks and crosschecking available record of all the assets and liabilities of the hotel, before the agreement would be formally terminated.

Sunshine VOICE reporters also gathered that some members of staff of some of the NICO staffers who once hold sway in the hotel had since vacated their rooms and chalets within the hotel complex as some have even checked in to nearby hotels.

The workers were said to have been moved into the vacant office of the NICON Insurance complex located at Isinkan area of Akure.

 Up till the moment of fii this report both the state government and the billionaire company has not issued an official  statement on the new development.

LP ARE MERE TENANTS IN ONDO STATE GOV.HOUSE-Akintade

LP are mere tenant in Ondo State - Akintade

The Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] Senatorial flagbearer for Ondo Central Senatorial District,Dr Michael Akintade has described the ruling political party in  Ondo State, the Labour Party[LP] as mere tenant.

“The ACN party is the party that is keeping the hope of the progressive minded people of Ondo State alive,our party is the party of the moment and of the future, and that is why we've been waxing stronger since after the election. Many great politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] and even the LP have expressed  their intention to decamp to ACN”

Dr Akintade who said he has put the loss of the last election behind his back because of what he called  a high-tech fraud, 'the last election which was deemed credible was full of outrageous financial inducement, rigging, and bribery by the LP high profiled thugs”

The Ifedore-born American based successful medical doctor turned politician pleaded with the masses of Ondo State to join forces with ACN to eject the current tenant in Ondo State government house.

It would be recalled that Dr.Akintade for over eight years has been on the race for the senate and these aspiration has taken him across many political parties from his days at the Democratic Peoples Alliance[DPA],to Labour Party[LP] which he left when he alleged that he was robbed of the senatorial  ticket to pitch his tenth with ACN.   

EXPLOSION HITS ONDO PDP...AS ACN SOARS HIGHER

EXPLOSION HITS PDP!

…as ACN benefited from mass defection

…party in disarray over Alasoadura's defection plan

That Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ondo State Chapter is in disarray is like stating the obvious, because the ripple effect of the abysmal failure at the last election is seriously crumbling the party.

As if the abysmal failure recorded by the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] was not even enough we heard it from a very good source that the ranks and files of the party will further be depleted any moment from now.

Because what started like a rumour will eventually turned to reality as one of   the founding and funding member of the PDP in Ondo State and a leader from Akure had concluded arrangement to defect to Acton Congress of Nigeria [ACN] which has become the political  harbor for politician seeking for a face saving political platform.

Information scooped from both the ACN and the PDP camps revealed that both party are already brazing up for the unfolding political occurrence that will eventually shake the political landscape of Ondo State.

During Sunshine VOICE routine check at the ACN party secretariat, some   party executives where seeing discussing the issue of decampees and how they are going to manage them in low voice.

While the whole world is awaits the defection of one of Akure most popular PDP leader [names withheld] who was quoted as telling his supporters that he will defect to ACN from PDP as he just realized that his political future can not be guaranteed.

Among those rumoured to decamp from PDP is the  Iju born political lord and grassroots mobiliser, Chief Tayo Alasoadaura, the former  Commissioner for finance under Gov. Agagu  was said to have concluded and perfected his plan to defect to ACN.

He was quoted to have recently confined in some of his loyal political followers his defection plan to ACN and that it became imperative for him to join another ship in order to achieve his political aspiration. 

Since February,2009 when Dr. Mimiko of the LP reclaimed his stolen mandate from Dr. Agagu led PDP government and the victory of both Governors Raufu Aregbesola  and Kayode Fayemi in Osun and Ekiti State   the PDP in Ondo State has daily been experiencing the defection of its  strong members to either Labour Party[LP] and of recent to ACN.

The party has lost two most vibrant members from Ondo North Senatorial District Chief Bailey Arohunmolase and Chief Mrs Olugboja to LP while the PDP in Akure lost two members the duo of Hon Idowu Otetubi and High Chief R. A Badmus a die-hard supporter and loyalist of Gov. Agagu   defected to ACN among others.

PDP SACKED AGAGU,DISSOLVED STATE EXCO

PDP Leaders sacked Agagu and Dairo, dissolves state exco

*Constitute a 9-man interim committee.

*Abdusalam,Ehinlanwo,EddyOlafeso,Arohunmolase,kekemeke,Alasoaduratakes over party  

The crisis rocking the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened yesterday as a faction of the party, under the auspices of Leaders and Stakeholders, suspended the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, from the party.

Also, the members dissolved the Dr. Omotayo Dairo-led State Executive Council and resolved to constitute a nine-man interim management committee to harmonise all factions and tendencies in the party.

Besides, the members rejected the suspension of members of the party and the list of 10 names compiled for federal appointments allegedly by Agagu and Dairo.

This development came as the Chairman of the party in Akoko Northwest; Prince Alaba Arohunmolashe, said the compilation of the 10 names as nominees to President Goodluck Jonathan would not stay because the Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), who is the highest political office holder of the party in the state, was not carried along.

Arohunmolase said the action of the dissolved Dairo-led executive would not stand because it did not enjoy the support of the majority of the party supporters in the state.

Among the leaders and stakeholders that witnessed the press conference addressed at the Press Centre of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), were the immediate past Speaker of the House of Assembly, Taofiq Olawale Abdusalam, incumbent Senator representing Ondo South, Senator Hosea Ehinlanwo, former commissioners under Agagu’s government including Dr Eddy Olafeso, Isaacs Kekemeke, and Chief Tayo Alasoadura.

Others included former Chairmen of local governments; Chief Adebanbo Odoro, Charles Adeduro, Mrs Yejide Ogundipe and Stephen Olemija.

Serving legislators of the party including Fatai Adams and Princess Caroline Olubimtan were at the briefing. Former office and incumbent office holders including Chief Bamidele Adeladun, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, Demola Babalola, Akin Aruwajoye, Dr Bode Iwaloye, Dr Patrick Gbakinro and Col Tunde Awodeyi (rtd) were also present.

Briefing reporters of behalf of others, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to Agagu, Chief Segun Adegoke, said although the decision was painful, it had to be taken in the interest of the party.

He said Agagu, as the leader, was suspended because he led the party to inexplicable and inexcusable electoral failure and for accentuating the unending crisis in the party, saying the decision had brought the party to its comatose state.

Adegoke said the stakeholders adopted the doctrine of necessity because prominent members of the party had left for other political parties due to the alleged mismanagement on the party by Agagu and Dairo.

His words: The leaders and stakeholders resolved to dissolve the state executive committee of the party in Ondo State and will set up a panel to investigate the finances of the party since February, 2009 including the over N30 million contributed by party members for the building of the state secretariat, the N10 million donated by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and all monies for the various elections in the state.

The leaders and stakeholders reject the suspension of the party members from the party without hearing and/or due process and urge the interim management committee to review all such cases. A party that is losing needs people, not fewer people.

The party leaders said it would be wrong and politically suicidal to allow the Dairo-led executive that had led the party to five electoral failures to continue in office and compound the woes of the party.

In his reaction, Dairo said the people, who were spent forces in their local government areas lacked locus standi to proclaim the state executive dissolved or to suspend any member of the party.

According to him, the list being complained about was complied with due process by the State Working Committee (SWC) and 15 leaders of the party across the state.

His words: These leaders are spent forces in their constituencies. As far as we are concerned, they are not known to our party, they are not known to the constitution because they are ex-this, ex-that, we want them to know that this is not an obaship institution where once you assume the leader, you are there for life, their local government areas have produced vibrant young men that have displaced many of these people.

These people now have no direct means of livelihood and that is why you see them becoming political jobbers. Hon Isaacs Kekemeke was a party secretary here before settling for political appointment, Col Awodeyi was Chairman and many of them like that but they have lost touch with the reality on ground now which is for them to agree that the past should remain the past.

The party chairman accused the Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, of masterminding the uproar in the party, saying: Unfortunately, the Minister found good use of these idle hands who have nowhere to go, no offices to run and no serious means of livelihood, he found ready tools in them and he doled some little to them and that is the result we are seeing now.

Since these people are not members of the ward executive, local government executives and state executive, they are not known to the national secretariat anymore and whatever they do remains null and void, so we are not bothered.

The PDP chairman laid the blame of the loss of the party at the elections conducted in the state since 2009 at the doorstep of many members of the group of stakeholders, noting that for example, Chief Tayo Alasoadura, a shining light within the team, was largely responsible for the political problems the party faced in Akure South Local Government due to his high handedness.

We understand they have served us before, but we appeal to them not to visit their frustrations on us because this frustration is out of poverty.

Similarly, the deputy governor under the Agagu administration and one of the nominees, Chief Omolade Oluwateru, said the leaders and stakeholders had no right to suspend anybody from the party, adding that the list being contested was compiled with input from the SWC and some leaders of the party.

His words: They said they are dissolving the exco and who are they, what are their positions in the party? There are ways of doing this, the executive council was constituted by a congress and it is only the congress that can dissolve the executive. So, it is very wrong for a handful set of people to hire people and pronounce the exco dissolved.

Besides, Chief Supo Ijabadeniyi, a leader of the party said the decision would not stand because of the illegality of their action.

According to him, those who took the decision were on their way to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and they wanted to destroy the party before the left.

OBASANJO ORDERS TOKUNBO KAYODE TO BEG FOR FORGIVENESS

‘Go and beg for forgiveness’

OBJ  orders Tokunbo  Kayode

The protracted political crisis rampaging the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) may have been laid to rest as former President Olusegun Obasanjo successfully brokered peace between the leadership of the Ondo PDP and the Defence Minister, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode.

Saturday Tribune gathered authoritatively that a meeting of the Ondo PDP stakeholders took place at the instance of President Obasanjo inside his Ota farm, Ogun State, on Thursday evening.

The meeting, which took place immediately after an earlier one held by chieftains of PDP in the South West geo-political zone, had in attendance former Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Agagu, chairman of PDP in the state, Dr Omotayo Dairo and Prince Kayode.

Others at the meeting, which was held behind closed doors and presided over by Obasanjo, were Chief Solomon Oladunni and Mr. Demola Ijabiyi.

During the no-holds- barred meeting, the Ondo PDP leaders were said to have accused the Defence Minister of being an ally of Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, whom they accused him of conniving with, to rob the PDP of victory in the last gubernatorial and parliamentary elections in the state.

Prince Kayode was also accused of deliberately starving the Ondo PDP of funds which, as the minister of defence, he could have made available to prosecute the past elections in Ondo State.

The defence minister was also accused of not being sensitive to the financial plight of PDP members in Ondo State in addition to not supporting PDP candidates who contested elections.

In addition, Prince Kayode was accused of not empowering any notable PDP member in any of the three senatorial districts in the state, but, instead, concentrated on making only himself comfortable.

The minister was also accused of constantly embarrassing the leadership of the PDP in the state by waging media war to demean their political status.

After defending himself on each of the allegations, which were said not to be satisfactory to the Ondo PDP chieftains, Chief Obasanjo was said to have come to his aid by pleading with the PDP leaders to forgive him and rescind the suspension placed on him.

The minister was also reportedly ordered by Obasanjo to formally ask for forgiveness from the Ondo PDP leaders and to also beg them verbally.

Meanwhile, The poor performance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West was as a result of the poor performance of governors of the party, a chieftain of the party, Wole Adebayo, has said.

Adebayo, who was reacting to the suspension of the Minister of Defence, Adetokunbo Kayode ,from the party said the poor performance of PDP at the last general elections showed that governors of the party let the people down by their dismal performance.

The minister was suspended by the Ondo state chapter of the PDP after the party failed to deliver the state for which the party blamed Adetokunbo.

Adebayo however, while reacting in a chat said it was a mistake for the state chapter of the party to suspend the first Minister of Defence from the South West on grounds that he was responsible for the poor showing of the party in Ondo.

He said: the reason given is very absurd. In fact, PDP lost the election in Ondo state in 1999; it won in 2003 because AD was quite unpopular and the PDP rallied round and got the people.

We lost out again in 2007; so, the party must be willing to please the electorate and win from year to year. If you lose this time, youll win next time. The party that is so arrogant to think that it cannot lose election and that electorates have no right in making choice; that party is not ready for democracy.

MINISTERIAL LIST:PDP DROPS DEFENCE MINISTER,KAYODE FOR ELEGBELEYE

Ondo State Ministerial list:

PDP drops Defence Minister,Tokunbo Kayode for Elegbeleye

…as Agagu,Olajumoke,Jimoh Ibrahim,Oke,Kuku,Dairo others  made  list

The desperate attempt and counter move by the embattled Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), to retain his position in the next dispensation suffered a big blow as the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dropped his name among the list of 10 members of the party presented with a less popular member Hon Oto Gbenga Elegbeleye.

The ministers name was conspicuously missing  among the 10 names of the  ministerial nominees expected to work with President Goodluck Jonathan  forwarded on Friday by the state chapter of the PDP to the elders’ meeting held in Lagos.

Top on the list of the nominees according to a PDP source, are: former state governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, Senator Bode Olajumoke the serving senator of Ondo Senatorial District, the publisher of the National Mirror and a business magnate, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, Engineer (Mrs.) Febi Adeyemi and former state deputy governor, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru.

Others are PDP national legal adviser, Chief Olusola Oke, the Special Adviser to the Presidency on Niger Delta Affairs, Honourable Kingsley Kuku, the party woman leader, Lady Folake Akinjoko, state party chairman, Dr. Omotayo Dairo, and Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye who currently represents Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and house committee vice Chairman on Sport."

 It would be recalled that the minister, Prince Kayode have for some weeks been swimming in the mucky political water over an alleged anti party activities that led to his suspension.

The state chapter of the PDP had earlier announced the suspension of the minister following what it described as his anti-party activities.

At the meeting, some leaders of the party from the state accused Prince Kayode of working against the success of the party in the last elections.

It would be recalled that the PDP acting chairman had directed all the state chapters of the party to submit 10 names of their members who will work with President Goodluck Jonathan in various capacities in the cabinet to be inaugurated soon.

As Prince Kayodes,the defence minister’s name was not on "the list of those who will be appointed to top political positions from Ondo State."

The state publicity secretary, Chief Adeyemi Adedipe, said the party leaders’ meeting was held in Lagos, but refused to make further comments.

While reacting on the suspension of the minister, Adedipe said the suspension was irreversible. His words: ‘The minister remains suspended. He has been suspended by the party state working committee (SWC) for alleged anti-party activities. His case has been forwarded to the national secretariat for further investigation." 　

Agagu drags Kunlere to Court over senatorial poll

Senatorial race:

Agagu drags Kunlere to Tribunal

...Akinyugha,Rawa,Agboola,challenge LP victory    

Former Governor of Ondo State,Dr. Olusegun Agagu,who is also the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] Senatorial flagbearer has dragged the Ondo South Senatorial  winner of the election on the platform of Labour Party[LP],Barrister Boluwaji Kunlere,before the State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting at Akure.

When Sunshine Voice correspondent visited the tribunal venue within the state High Court premises on Wednesday,discovered that Agagu, who contested on the platform of the PDP,filed his petition on April 29.

The ikale born politician,Agagu in his petition alleged gross irregularities in the conduct of the poll maintaining that there was a large scale violence and snatching of ballot boxes on the day of the National Assemby elections.

The tribunal has fixed October 27 this year as the possible date of delivering judgment on the case.

Also, the current PDP member, representing Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Chief Agboola Ajayi, has challenged the declaration of LPs candidate, Chief Raphael Nomiye, as the winner of the election in his constituency.

Ajayi, who also filed his petition on April 29, is also expected to receive the tribunals verdict on October 27.

In the same vein, the Action Congress of Nigeria[ACN]candidate,Mr Rawa Felix  has also challenged the victory of Nomiye as winner of the Ilaje/Ese Odo federal constituency election.

The candidate of ACN in the election, Mr. Rawa Felix, argued that the poll was allegedly manipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission[INEC] in favour of the LP.


The PDPs candidate in the Idanre/Ifedore Federal constituency, Mr. Akinyugha Jones, has also filed a petition to contest the victory of Mr. Bakare Moshood Abiodun of the LP.

The tribunal is expected to deliver judgment on all the petitions on October 27, 2011.