The secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Alh Rasaq Lawal has dismissed speculations of double standard regarding the affairs of the party.
Lawal said he remains a loyal and committed members of the PDP regardless of futile efforts by certain individuals led by one “Alhaja from Adewole ward” to tarnish his hard earned reputation and enviable records of loyalty to his past and present political leaders.
Reacting to a spurious allegation of double dealing and disloyalty to the PDP in a popular social media platform, Lawal described those behind the unfounded allegations as political merchants who thrive in destroying loyal members of the party just to earn favour from the leader of the party in the state.
The PDP scribe specifically made reference to an unfounded rumours about him hobnobbing with the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
He emphasised that he remains a committed member of the PDP, saying that his membership of the party and any party that he had worked for in the past ” is built on personal conviction, principle and community service, adding that,” if there is the need for me to shift camp based on these principles, I will do it publicly”.
Going down the memory lane, the PDP scribe recalled with a sense of satisfaction his loyalty to his former political leaders, adding that,” my loyalty to the PDP is as solid as the gilbrata’s rock. I don’t belong to class of people that jump ships. In 2003, when late Governor Mohammed Lawal couldn’t secure a second term, I stayed back in his political camp for eight years despite the fact that there was no financial support or rallying point personality after the demise of my hero, Governor Lawal.
“I have been in politics for the past 35 years and Alhamdulillah, my record of being a party man has never been in dispute .
“I want to say that this unfounded rumours about me engaging in double standard is unfortunate. Audio clips have disclosed the identity of one “Alhaja from Adewole ward” who is behind this dangerous rumours. However, I take solace in the fact that, in the recent past, the same woman has also labelled an highly revererd Alh Abubakar Kawu Baraje as a disloyal member of the party because of petty intra- party issue.
“This woman who has turned herself to foodstuff suppliers in the PDP secretariat, and is enveloped with a lot of scam and dishonesty, has nothing to offer than bringing well meaning members of the party down. If I may ask what is an offence in me relating with my brothers in other parties other than the PDP? What offence have I committed in attending the birthday event of a friend and brother, Hon. Mashood Mustapha who is an APC stalwart?
“I want to make it clear that my membership of any party or loyalty to any political leader will not stop me from relating with my friends, associates and brothers in the fold of opposing political parties.
“Afterall, when most people left the PDP for APC, myself and other likeminds stayed back in the PDP; a development which made it easier for our old political associates to return back to the PDP.
“It’s on record and to the acknowledgement of Dr Saraki that I worked relentlessly for the success of the PDP in the presidential and national assembly elections to the extent that I broke down two days after the election, having overworked myself. I thank our leader for his concerns and phone calls when I was in the hospital.
“With all modesty, I am among the few that work day and night to keep the party flag flying and party leadership can attest to it” when others turned themselves to “clearing and forwarding” agents of Semovita and Indomine within the party.”
On allegation of my purported commissioning of one Olugbon to do an hatchet man job, I wanted to state that sometimes in 2021, we requested him to do a job for the party.
“It’s is not a personal assignment and It is not an anti -party matter, as the leadership is fully aware of the assignment intended for Olugbon and others. It’s either they could not interprete or comprehend what Olugbon explained to them or they mischievously turned it upside down to archive their aim,” he explained.
“I think it’s high time we put behind us politics of bitterness. We should not see our friends and brothers in other political parties as enemies.
“And more importantly, party leadership should as a matter of urgency address this kind of careless talk of character assassination, otherwise, some of us would have no choice than to seek legal redress to protect our hard earned integrity,” Lawal counseled.
