By DADA AYOKHAI
The rift within the ranks of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State resurfaced penultimate week with the party’s state Youth Leader, Mr. Destiny Oreye, accusing the Dr. Tony Aziegbemi-led state executive of operating from an illegal secretariat
Oreye’s caustic remarks are contained in a disclaimer issued to denounce his alleged presence at the recently held meeting of the state working committee chaired by the state Party chairman, Dr Aziegbemi .
Distancing himself from the “purported” meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party, Oreye said he could not have associated himself with such illegality, stating further that the purported SWC meeting was simply a “smokescreen”
” I wish to state categorically that the purported meeting was not attended by my good self and such claims is simply a product of someone’s imagination. My presence at the venue Was an indiscriminate rendezvous with a friend, during which I ran into Dr Tony Aziegbemi and Bishop Okosun. , There was no meeting going on, for the records.”
On the controversy surrounding the actual location of the Edo State PDP secretariat, Oreye said the edifice at number 55, Akpapava Road, Benin, was the temporary abode of the party, dismissing the one along the Airport Road in Benin as not designated PDP secretariat.
“The said “secretariat” Is the former APC secretariat and it is on record that the temporary Edo State POP secretariat is located at no 55 Akpakpava road Benin Road, Benin City, and I will not attend a State Working Committee meeting
in a building which is not designated as the PDP secretariat”.
The controversial PDP secretariat at Airport road was initially housing APC when the state governor Mr Godwin obaseki was a member of the party.
The then national chairman of the APC and former Edo state governor comrade Adams oshiomole ordered the relocation of the party secretariat from the building after the defection of governor obaseki to PDP .
Regarding the purported SWC meeting, he said the party Constitution is very explicit about the relevant organs vested with the power to summon SWC meetings as well as the day-to-day running of the party.
He pointed out that the state chairman usurped the powers of the state Secretary of the party, Mr. Hilary Otsu, by calling the meeting of the SWC, adding he is, however, willing to attend any meeting called by the latter .
“The PDP constitution clearly prescribes the relevant organ of the Party responsible for convening meetings and administrations of the party. The State Secretary, Hillary Otsu, Is alive and well to this duties and responsibilities, and whenever he invites me to any State working committee
meeting , I shall always attend.”
He concluded by saying “All Edo PDP LGA and ward youth leaders should please cake note a this serves as my re-commitment to the ideals of our Party and the struggle for a just and equitable leadership”
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