PDP’s Suspension of Oyinlola Shocked Me – Jonathan

The suspension of the Appeal Court reinstated National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) was said to have been received by the Presidency with a shock because it was at variance with the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan.


A presidency source told Saturday Tribune on Friday that Jonathan specifically directed the party leadership to ensure that the Appeal Court decision was not appealed against given the fact that it presented an opportunity to once and for all resolve the intractable crisis rocking the party.

“ We do not know who gave the counter order that resulted in the suspension of those people, particularly, Oyinlola. That decision has the potential of setting the judiciary against the party and its government because it is already being seen as a negation of President Jonathan’s avowed commitment to the rule of law,” the source said.

The Presidency has drawn up some options to get the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of its festering crisis, it was learnt on Friday.

The latest steps being taken by the presidency, it was gathered, followed a barrage of intense pressures from some stakeholders in the government who felt that certain forces were exploiting the situation for selfish motives.

A number of governors loyal to President Jonathan were said to have made contacts among themselves and with the President between Wednesday and Thursday night, expressing deep concerns that the leadership of the party scuttled the opportunity for peace presented by the Appeal Court verdict.

Consequently, it was learnt, the presidency, by Thursday evening, came close to directing the party leadership to reverse itself on the suspension issue but for the preparations for the Anambra governorship election holding today which were engaging the attention of the party.

“ I can tell you that drastic measures will be taken immediately after the Anambra election to finally halt the drift. No one is happy about these ugly things. We want to resolve the crisis and put it behind us, “ the source said.

The source added that legal and ethical issues thrown up by the suspension order were also engaging the attention of the stakeholders who are viewing with concern the legality of decisions being currently taken by the party with the sitting secretary whose appointment has been declared illegal by the Court