PDP drops Omilani as zonal vice chairman

By Jackson Udom - 24.02.2008

Ahead of the South West Zonal Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), indications have emerged that the South West Zonal Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, Senator Yinka Omilani, has been dropped and replaced with former Commissioner of Works in Osun State, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo.

Sunday Tribune reliably gathered from party sources, that, power brokers within the zone have unanimously endorsed the candidature of Omilani’s successor.

Though reasons behind his replacement remained very foggy as at press time, it was however gathered that the move against his return to the office he occupied mid way into the tenure of the outgoing south west zonal leadership might not be unconnected with what a source described as running battle of confidence between him and former National Deputy Chairman of the party, Commodore Olabode George (rtd).

It was also gathered that the independent mindedness of the senator may have also contributed to the decision of the power brokers in the zone not to have him returned to the office as doing so, would see them trailing behind the senator in any decision taken at the zonal level of the party.

The plot to sack the Ode Omu-born politician from the driver’s seat of South West politics it will be recalled, commenced mid 2007, when some party officers in the zone, met in Premier Hotel, Ibadan, to announce the suspension of the zonal chairman from office.

The said suspension, it was further learnt, was not allowed to see the light of the day. President Olusegun Obasanjo was said to have intervened in the matter, ordering that he be immediately reinstated, while those who were behind the plot were reprimanded.

Part of the offences said to have been committed by the First Republic Senator, was his alleged disrespect and disloyalty to the office of the National Deputy Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George and his alleged closeness to former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja.

With the re-zoning of the zonal chairmanship office to Osun State, the plot for the non-return of the business mogul cum politician to the office it was gathered, had been perfected, and would be hatched few days to the zonal congress.

As it is the practice in the party, Omilani’s successor, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, it was learnt would emerge as a consensus candidate, just as his predecessor emerged, when the office became vacant with the elevation of Bode George to the position of the Deputy National Chairman.

Confirming the development the south west zonal officer of the party, who pleaded anonymity via a text message said, “It is an absolute truth that we have found a replacement for Senator Omilani and that person is Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo.”

When contacted, a source within the Omilani’s political camp could not confirm nor deny the development but quickly added that”, if they are going to either retain or replace him, he (Omilani) has not been officially notified on the development.

But even if they do not want him again because of his independent mindedeness and uprightness in the running of the party, his successor should not be a political dwarf”.

The source, who disclosed that the party was free to pick whoever it deemed fit for the office noted that “Senator Omilani was not bothered about such decision as it affected him, because he is already a successful and credible politician who has stamped his feet on the sands of time.”

According to the source, “the criteria adopted by the party for the selection or appointment of anybody to occupy that office has not been made public.”

On the relationship between Omilani and the state government, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola who is expected to play a prominent role in the emergence of the zonal chairman, the source said” the relationship between the duo is very cordial. You know Omilani for who he is, he cannot hurt a fly. They relate very well.”