Nigeria: 'Parallel Secretariat Meant to Weaken Alao-Akala's Control of PDP'

tag: secretariat

Lekan Balogun, was designed to curtail the influence of Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala on the party, as well as scuttle his second term ambition.The parallel secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), formed recently in Oyo State by a chieftain of the party in the state.

Balogun, an Ibadan high chief, on Monday declared the parallel secretariat open, and stated that his action was based on agreement between himself and other PDP leaders in the state, including former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, Yekeen Adeojo, Wole Oyelese and Richard Akinjide.

However, Daily Independent gathered that the plan to float a parallel PDP secretariat was to weaken the control of Alao-Akala over the political party in the state, in preparation for the 2011 elections.

Daily Independent further gathered that the PDP parallel secretariat is an Ibadan agenda to stop Alao-Akala from claiming the leadership of the party in the state; after the demise of the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Lamidi Adedibu.

"The Governor now sees himself as the Alfa and Omega of Oyo PDP. He now decides the fate of every other members of the party; and the majority of those who have fared badly in his hand are Ibadan people.

"He threatens to sideline many Ibadan politicians in 2011, as he believes that he will be the one to give out party nomination tickets in 2011, but Ibadan people will never take that from him," Balogun said.

An axe to grind with Alao-Akala are reportedly in support of Balogun's action, Many Ibadan politicians currently holding different political offices, both at the state and federal levels.