As crisis rocks Lagos PDP over Grange’s job

Professor Adenike GrangeThe resignation of Professor Adenike Grange as Minister of Health has further sown seeds of discord in the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the furore being on who replaces her, Adewale Ajayi reports.

The resignation of Minister of Health Professor Adenike Grange, over an allegation of N300 million unspent budget allocation, allegedly shared by officials of the ministry and some members of the National Assembly, has started having ripple effect on the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Though, the position she was occupying was a slot meant for the South West Women but with the turn of events, Lagos PDP is keen on filling the position. This has triggered off intense lobbying between the factions in the party.

The Chairman of the party, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo last Thursday, held a series of meetings with the members of the state executive council to agree on steps to be taken in ensuring that the slot does not elude the state chapter of the party.

According to the chairman, the issue of compiling list of her likely successor had not arisen, but the most important issue was to convince other South West states to concede the position to the state chapter again.

The other faction of the party led by Kamal Olorunoje is eager to have the position for one members of its members, as a way of pacifying it for losing out during the party’s congress.

As a way of ensuring that the position comes its way, the group has sought appointment with the National Chairman of the party, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor which is scheduled for Monday.

According to a source close to the group, top on its agenda is getting the ministerial slot for one of its members, to be followed by a presentation of the issue of sharing of executive council positions in the state equally, just as it demanded for dissolution of the state executive council in order to give room for all interest groups to have representatives in the new cabinent.

The demands may spark up fresh crisis in the state chapter of the party, if not properly handled as none of the groups, from all indications, wishes to let go of the slot.

The danger in it is , if the matter is not properly managed, the state chapter may end up forfeiting the slot to another state in the zone. Ones of the issues that engendered the crisis in the party was the failure of the former president to consider any of the ministerial nominees chosen by the then state chairman of the party, Chief Rasheed Alaba-Williams.

Chief Alaba-Williams, who was dismayed that the list he submitted was never considered did not hide his feelings, when he declared publicly at one of the party’s functions that he didn’t know Augusto.

When Augusto was edged out by the Senate , members of the party ,particularly those clamouring for compensation of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro , after losing in his bid to become governor of the state , thought the powers that be, would present him for the post until Mr Demola Seriki was picked out of the blues.

The role played by Chief Alaba –Williams in ensuring one of those he submitted their names to fill the position put him on a war path with those forces that never wanted them to get the slot.

His decision to confront those forces eventually led to his exit via a text message sent to media houses by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Muyiwa Collins at that time.

Chief Alaba - Williams was allowed to formally resign his position after much persuasion and intervention by the national executive council of the party.

He could not hide his displeasure with the development when he explained that it was surprising that out of the three names submitted which included. Senator Musilu Obanikoro, Engineer Tokunbo Kamson and Chief Bode Oyedele, none was considered.

Mr. Augusto was said to be the candidate of the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olabode George, ditto for Professor Grange, Mr. Demola Seriki, the minister of state for Water Resources.

The feeling among the opposition camp is that , since the influence wielded by the former President and Chief George has started dwindling, they are hopeful of having their case well treated, the encumbrances and frustration suffered in the past will pave way for one of them getting the slot.

The fundamental issue is, which of the chairmen of the party will submit list to the president for consideration?. The argument of the faction of the party is that their group parades array of influential women, among whom were Alhaja Senator Ojikutu, former deputy governor in the state, Chief (Mrs.) Modupe Sasore and Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, also a former Deputy governor, to mention a few.

The way the two groups handle the matter, shall determine if the slot should be given to the state chapter or not. Other states in the zone may equally catch in on the inability of the two groups to agree , since they are equally eyeing the position. How each of the contenders is able to pursue its ambition determines who get it.

Since the faction in the state wants the position as compensation for what it has lost, its argument may make some sense, but that depends on if the members of the party will let it be .

Since the position became vacant, interested members have started scheming for the position , top among those interested in the position is Chief (Mrs.) Sasore, while there are quite many of them making moves in ensuring who gets the slot .
approach in handling the matter.