A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Barrister Rotimi Adeyenuwo, has warned against infiltration of the party by fifth columnists even as he drums support for the party’s candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

In a statement on Friday in Osogbo, Adeyenuwo, a strong party leader from Ile Ife, observed that the current face-off is beyond the ordinary as he affirmed that Adeleke clearly defeated Dr Akin Ogunbiyi in the last Saturday Primary.

Calling on the State Working Committee of the party to rise and stand by the wish of the delegates, Adeyenuwo noted that taken the party to court is a sacrilegious act considering the sacrifices of party members up to this stage.

The statement of Adeyenuwo runs as follows: “I think it is about the right time to speak out. Things are getting out of hands really. The essence of the struggle of over two and half years is being defeated by self-interest of some individuals.

“If PDP Osun was embroiled in crisis for such a length of time and was not consumed then, the present travails could be seen beyond ordinary. It has metaphysical colouration. But as an entity that relied on prayer to walk through the past challenges in the state, why can’t we go back to the same Supreme Being for intervention in the present imbroglio?

“Democracy entails free participation. On no account should any person or group of persons try to encumber the flow. In a liberal democracy such as we have, people are free to express their thought and preference through franchise. Whatever the outcome should be taken in the spirit of sportsmanship.

“Nobody can be sure of victory in a competitive enterprise until the very end of it. If per chance one person wins, other contestants should not throw caution into the winds wanting to lord their preference on the others. Afterall in democracy, number is the most treasured factor. Minority will have their say while the majority will have their way. That is the standard prism in political field.

“The present event where the party is engulfed in seeming crisis is an unnecessary distraction. After party primary, the party should unite to pursue the common course to a logical conclusion. No person can fault the conduct of the governorship primary of last Saturday at GMT Hotel, Osogbo. The arrangement was okay. Unless some people want to be mischievous, enough level playing ground was provided for the exercise.

“If per adventure people express their wish through vote and the party’s candidate emerges, of what need is the present crisis if not for the clandestine intervention of the fifth columnist in the prowl. This will be self-serving.This is complete negation of the general will.

“Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke has emerged PDP governorship candidate in Osun State. Even if the margin is by one vote, that is the beauty of democracy. It is a divine choice that nobody can controvert. Challenging such beyond the party’s internal mechanism as in the already concluded Election Appeal Committee heaves trivial.

“Let Akin Ogunbiyi or other members of the party, regardless of their status, prompting him to engage Senator Ademola Adeleke in legal battle have a rethink. There is no meaningful destination this judicial activism is leading them to. Senator Ademola Adeleke has come to stay as PDP candidate.

“If they premised their agitation and legal recourse on educational qualification, are they saying the INEC that cleared him before contesting Senatorial seat of Osun West over a year ago did not advert its mind to the constitutional provision on Ademola Adeleke’s eligibility in that election? Are they saying APC are so daft not to have challenged him then more so that he defected from their political party to PDP to disgrace them in that election? Let the present firework against this God’s anointed candidate abate for posterity sake.

“This should serve as a lesson to people who want to equate themselves with the Omniscient, Omnipotent God that power belongs to Him exclusively. The Almighty God has spoken in this matter, ordinary mortals should abstain from activity that will incur the wrath of the Supreme Being.

“This war of attrition is not necessary at this time. Time is no longer on our side to engage ourselves in legal brawl. Our teeming supporters are feeling worried with the trend of things in the party. Any attempt to truncate this process of wrestling power from APC on September 22, 2018, will not be taken lightly.

“Our State Working Committee should see this travails as a very big challenge to them collectively and individually. They should rise above board to tender or soothe the strained nerves regardless of their position before the party primary. Yoruba people in their wisdom would say “Oba to je ti ilu toro, oruko re oni pare laelae....”

“As the driver behind the wheel, the people at the helms of affairs of the party at various levels should be conscious of the fact they are being watched by the whole world. Any attempt to allow extraneous agent(s) to hijack the party from them will not be pleasurable and memorable in future.

“If Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke with our support could win that senatorial seat with landslide victory in 2017, why can’t we as party platform allow him to repeat the same feat in 2018? Changing the winning team is not the best strategy. It is not reasonable to kill the goose that is laying golden eggs.

“Finally, let me say emphatically here by way of conclusion that Power belongs to God. He gives it to whoever pleases Him. Majority of PDP members through representation of delegates have chosen Ademola Adeleke to be the party's candidate. Let us rally round him to succeed in the general election please,” the party chief concluded.

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