Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has brokered peace among aggrieved stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ife Federal Constituency, resolving internal wranglings that recently rocked the party in the zone.
The reconciliation follows a vote of no confidence passed by party leaders in the constituency against the State Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi; former PDP National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo; and the Chairman of Ife East PDP, Mr. Olasunkanmi Makinde (popularly known as Benco), over allegations of anti-party conduct.
Speaking after a closed-door meeting with party chieftains in Ile-Ife, Governor Adeleke attributed the dispute to a breakdown in communication and the meddling of external forces bent on destabilising the party. He urged party leaders to close ranks and resist any attempt by the opposition to exploit internal divisions.
“From what I have heard and observed, the disagreement stemmed largely from a communication gap among leaders and deliberate attempts by outsiders to sow discord,” Adeleke said in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed.
“Ife remains PDP territory. Let us return to the field with renewed unity and purpose. Our administration has delivered tangible progress in Ifeland, and more is on the way. I commend the maturity and commitment demonstrated by all stakeholders present here today,” the governor added.
The meeting drew the attendance of key figures in the state party hierarchy, including Senator Lere Oyewumi, Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate; Hon. Sunday Bisi, State PDP Chairman; Hon. Teslim Igbalaye, Secretary to the State Government; Hon. Kazeem Akinleye, Chief of Staff to the Governor; and Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, Chairman of the Commissioners’ Forum, among others.
In his remarks, the State Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi, described the earlier tensions as a “family matter” and lauded the willingness of all parties to prioritise the party’s interest above personal grievances.
“We’re pleased to note that the issues have been amicably resolved. This is a testament to the enduring bond among PDP stakeholders in Ife. Moving forward, we expect all statutory party meetings to resume, and members are advised to avoid actions that may be construed as anti-party,” Bisi stated.
The reconciliation is seen as a strategic move by the Adeleke administration to consolidate the party’s base in preparation for upcoming electoral contests, particularly in a constituency that has historically played a pivotal role in Osun politics.
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