By Abdulrasheed Akogun
The recent constitution and inauguration of an 18 man reconciliation committee by the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has created disquiet within the party hierarchy, Fresh Insight has exclusively gathered.
It would be recalled the party chairman, Hon. Kola Shittu had while inaugurating the Abubakar Kawu Baraje led reconciliation committee yesterday, charged them to ensure they bring the party together in anticipation of emerging victorious in the next elections.
However speaking with Fresh Insight on condition of anonymity, a member of the State Working Committee (SWC), decried the highhandedness in the selection of the members of the “all important” committee, stressing that “while we are trying to heal the wounds of the past, the leaders of the party seem not to have learnt anything.
“I can confirm to you that the membership of the committee wasn’t as a result of any consultation, it was just prepared by one or 2 leaders and handed over to the Chairman to read out.
“The first time State excos of the party got wind of such a committee was at a meeting we held on Sunday evening, immediately after meeting the 2019 aspirants of the party.
“Exco members grumbled over the imposition of committee members, although we had no choice than to implement the list as handed over to us.
“Now the list probably because it wasn’t a result of extensive consultation, is skewed and faulty in so many ways” he added.
Fresh Insight findings showed that while the 18 member committee have 2 representatives from Edu local government area of Kwara State, in persons of Alhaji S. A Musa and Hajia Jinatu who both are indigene of Shonga ward 1.
Further findings revealed that no fewer than 5 local governments namely felodun, Offa among others were left with no member.
A Chieftain of the party from Kwara Central who craved anonymity, described the membership composition as a “huge joke”, stressing that some of the members are the reasons why there are crisis in the party, having breached the party member’s trust serially in the past.
He said “Safe for the Chairman who is a personality with far reaching respect and acceptability across the various interest groups within the party and the youth representatives who are popular and widely accepted within their rank, I really do not see how some of the names I’ve seen on that committee can add value.
“One of the members was accused of mismanaging funds meant for mobilisation during the Atiku Abubakar Presidential campaign visit to Ilorin in 2019, same thing goes for one heavily indicted in the diversion of Gubernatorial campaign funds and another fingered in the disruption of the first Gubernatorial primaries, yet they’ve been enlisted to come reconcile those they’ve offended.
“I’ll advice that the committee be disbanded and members of impeccable character should be made members to serve under Alh. Kawu Baraje.
“It is my hope, Dr. Bukola Saraki will refuse to be used to legitimise this anomaly, we need to show and prove we’ve learnt our lessons and ready to do things better, else Kwarans won’t take us serious. Kwarans are tired of imposition and highhandedness.
“This membership composition is nothing but using excreta to clean the body” he added
