OSUN PDP: “Your Press Conference Is Pure Display Of Naked Dance In The Market Square” Adagunodo Tackles Atidade

The embattled Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Osun State Chapter, Hon Olasoji Adagunodo has reacted to the outcome of the party’s press conference in Osun headed by the acting Chairman, Sunday Akanfe Atidade in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

In his comprehensive press release made available to OSUNREPORTERS NEWS on Friday in Osogbo, Adagunodo rejigged the resolution and described the outcome of the purported press conference as naked dance in the market square, extreme lust of power and shame of the highest order.

Adegunodo added that, the unfortunate turn of events within the Osun PDP were spearheaded by some people using his deputy, Akanfe Atidade to front the rift, adding that the involvement of his deputy is appalling, disappointing, unfortunate and unexpected of someone of his status.

Adagunodo (right), Atidade

The statement read in part, “My attention has just been drawn to the contents of a Press Conference addressed by the Acting Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Sunday Akanfe Atidade.

“My initial resolution was to ignore the content and allow the organiser(s) of the Press Conference to continue the naked dance embarked upon in the market square. However, because the show of shame and extreme lust for power was spearheaded by someone who, to all intents and purposes, was my deputy, I had to rejigg that resolution.

“It is funny that Mr Sunday Akanfe Atidade who is supposed to be above the board cannot get himself to realise the basic principles of life, that when you persecute people you always rouse them to be strong and stronger.

“He always sat by my side during most party meetings, deliberations and decisions. That he is the one that has now turned around, since the beginning of the unfortunate turn of events in the party, to be a major actor in these festering hostilities is appalling, disappointing, unfortunate and unexpected of someone of his status.”

Adagunodo further reaffirmed that until the report of the audit committee claimed by the acting Chairman is currently no where to be, while everyone behind this ridiculous turn of events is reminded that different officers are saddled with the responsibilities of keeping financial records a and not until the final outcome of the audit panel, every other statement against him remains invalid.

“PDP faithful and the general public will recall that the State Youth Leader, Mr. Seyi Bamidele, in a statement signed on behalf of the Party, which in itself was bizarre, had clearly said, “the State Chairman, Hon. Olasoji Adagunodo was yet to be found guilty of anything” and barely 24 hours later, the Acting Chairman of the same Executive Committee to which Seyi Bamidele belongs, and on whose behalf he had issued the statement, claimed that a hired auditor had confirmed hundreds of millions missing, “though no specific figures were given.”

“One wonders at what quality of auditor, worth his salt, would not be specific about quoted figures. Besides, is it possible that the said auditor was hired and completed his hatchet assignment, if he did any at all, within 24 hours and as such could not provide exact figures? Whatever the case maybe, why were the figures not stated anywhere in the body of the Press Conference addressed by Mr Sunday Akanfe Atidade?

“Meanwhile, contrary to the lies and claims that a report has been sent to me, I wish to state categorically that nobody has contacted me till this moment neither was any report sent to me. I only read about the audit in the news feed.

“If the claims actually exist, best practice procedures, if it was not designed to achieve predetermined mudslinging and smearing goals, would involve primary and secondary books of accounting. These books should be in the custody of officers constitutionally empowered to keep them. In addition, best practice procedures also demand that the Auditor seeks explanations at least from me, if he finds it too tedious to do a thorough job, before coming up with the indicting resolutions noted by Mr Atidade.

“In all, the Acting Chairman needs not be told that the Secretary, Financial Secretary, Treasurer and Internal Auditor of the party are still members of the SWC. I am fairly certain that they should have cooperated with the External Auditor, if he exists outside the imagination of the conjurers. Everyone behind this ridiculous turn of events is by this statement reminded that different officers are saddled with the responsibilities of keeping financial records.

“It will also be interesting to know which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Investigation by the NWC or SWC?

“This desperation and drives to tear the party apart to please an individual on a self-righteous vengeance and vendetta mission does not smell right. Did this auditing begin before the step-aside order or after the step-aside order?

“Knowing full well that the basis of my being ordered to step aside are outright lies, some people are seriously looking for a means to cover up their dastardly acts. I know what to do but if I respond appropriately, the credibility of our great party may suffer severe damage. I have decided to wait and let them expose themselves to the whole world to know who actually is hell-bent on ruining our party in Osun,” Adagunodo said.

Stating the duration of how his administration was governed financially, Adagunodo said between March 2018 and April 2020, he was the major financier of the Party while major achievements were recorded as a major opposition party in the state before he was told to step aside.

“It is interesting that, at this juncture, the whole of the State Working Committee feigns ignorance of all the expenses of the party that we executed between the 25th March, 2018, when we were inaugurated, and October 6th 2018. This was the period fund was raised and expenditures incurred. Let me state unequivocally that between then and when I was told to step aside on April 30 2020, I was the major financier of the Party.

“The list is long but among others, the following party programs were undertaken between May and October 2018:

(1) SOUTHWEST Mega Rally
(2) 3 ad-hoc Ward Congresses,
(3) Local Government Congresses
(4) State congress for the PDP gubernatorial primary.
(5) Senatorial rallies
(6) MEGA rally for the gubernatorial campaign.
(7) 3 Ad-Hoc Ward delegates congresses again, for State and National Assembly primaries
(8) Local Government Congresses
(9) Gubernatorial campaigns and Consultations
(10) Gubernatorial elections.
(11) Senate primaries
(12) House of Representatives primaries
(13) State Assembly primaries
(14) National Convention
(15) National Assembly and Presidential campaign
(16) State House of Assembly Campaign
(17) National Assembly and Presidential elections
(18) State Assembly elections

“For all the above listed party activities, State Working Committee meetings, State Executive Meetings, Stakeholders meetings and Elders Caucus meetings in the House of our Leader Senator Olu Alabi were held. We, in fact, discussed all budget proposals and all expenses and how to raise funds to execute them.

“In this light, it is more than funny and ridiculous seeing the Atidade-led State Working Committee members that were fully part of all the decisions taken turning around, feigning ignorance of how these expenses were incurred.

“Whereas, proceeds from the sales of forms, including payments for delegate forms, were all remitted to the National headquarters of the party, all expenses and incomes were targeted at carrying out the party programs, including those mentioned above. Further more, one hundred and thirty thousand party membership Cards, copies of the Party Constitution and ward registers that were also purchased and distributed free of charge to the wards are also known to all. How convenient was it for Atidade-led SWC members to claim ignorance of all these expenses? He aseked”

Conclusively, the stepped aside party Chairman challenged the acting chairman of extremely culpable in the on going crisis within the party in Osun Osun State, and asked some questions that are begging for answers from the outcome of the said press conference champion by Atidade.

According to Adagunodo, “It is now very clear that the Acting Chairman is extremely culpable in the ongoing crises in the Osun State PDP maybe because he is also from Ede. I could be wrong but I want to believe that other executive members are still not and cannot be part of the shameful act.

“Many questions are begging for answers and its high time the PDP faithful and the general public who are truly interested in salvaging the PDP in Osun State asked the acting chairman some questions. He should stated whether or not:

(1) They are aware that we undertook the above mentioned activities and expended some funds?

(2) Were they not aware that we had budgets for each of these activities and that we discussed how to raise funds for them?

(3) Were some members of the SWC not part of the disbursement of the said money according to the dictates of their various offices and portfolios?

(4) What of the series of meetings that we usually held, preceding all these activities, involving the SWC, the State Executive Committee meetings, the Stakeholders meetings, the Elders Caucus meetings in Baba, Dr. (Senator) Olu Alabi’s house before the commencement of all these activities apart from our regular normal meetings?

(5) There were officers that disbursed funds for coverage of party activities, mobilization, legal running expenses, refreshment and souvenir, Food and drinks used on all occasions. Organization of events expenses, various religious and spiritual consultations, Security, both orthodox and unorthodox local , Honorarium for officials that supervised those activities and Government Agencies logistics?
Did any one of them remember to collect receipts for the disbursements?

(6) Are they aware of the various committees set up for both Mega rallies and Senatorial rallies?

(7) Are they aware that the Southwest Working committee was the Main Organising committee and we are Local Organising committees with various sub committees.

“This is actually becoming extremely laughable and a serious joke taken too far. It might not be palatable for the Party. I hope the founding fathers, pioneer members and leadership of the Party will salvage the situation from those who are hell-bent on destroying our Party because of personal motives and agenda,” he concluded.