Buruji Kashamu Speaks On Prince Dayo Adeyeye’s Diatribe Against Fellow Party Members

I have read the various media reports credited to the spokesman of the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Dayo Adeyeye in the wake of last week’s governorship election in Ondo State, and I must say that I am particularly taken aback by his assertion that, “The National Caretaker Committee has not called for their expulsion against the claims they are making. The time for that has not come. But the rain of vengeance will not hang forever in the clouds.”

It is most ludicrous that at a time well-meaning leaders of the party are calling for caution and self-restraint; a supposed leader of the party could be talking about “vengeance”. I doubt if Prince Adeyeye meant to equate the National Caretaker Committee with the Almighty Allah who said, “Vengeance is mine”. Otherwise, one would have expected a spokesman and an aspirant like Prince Adeyeye to show some level of maturity and circumspection in his utterances because nobody knows tomorrow.

For instance, it is common knowledge that he was diametrically opposed to Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose in the build up to the governorship election in the state in 2014. Today, they are working hand-in-hand in the hope that Governor Fayose will support him (Prince Adeyeye) as his successor in 2018. I do not begrudge him for that because, as they say, in politics, there are no permanent enemies or friends but permanent interests.

However, he should know that if Governor Fayose could be seeking to undo those of us who stood by him against the onslaught mounted by Prince Adeyeye and his backers in the build up to the PDP primaries in 2014, he would do the same thing to him and others who are with him now.

If you emasculate your fellow party men and women in a struggle to protect their interests because you think you have an upper hand today, what happens tomorrow if the table turns? When he fought Governor Fayose to the hilt in the build up to the PDP governorship primary, was it not about his interest? Was it not the need to cater for his interest that led to his being made the Minister of State for Works? Even now, is all he is doing not about his interest in positioning himself for the Ekiti State governorship in 2018? We might then ask if Prince Adeyeye is the only one in Ekiti State whose interest must be factored in at all times?

Let us not lose sight of the fact that the appellate courts are yet to finally determine the issue of the national leadership crisis. Irrespective of what the High courts say for or against Senator Ali Modu Sheriff or Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court are still there to adjudicate on the issues, and it could become a circus show. Besides, anyone who is unjustly punished would not fold his hands and allow his rights to be trampled upon. He would do everything legally possible to fight for his rights. And this could result into series of litigations and create more problems than it was meant to resolve.

It is instructive to ask that when he was chosen and imposed on the South West by Governor Fayose as the zone’s representative on the National Caretaker Committee, how many leaders of the party in the zone were consulted? Perhaps that is why he feels beholden to Governor Fayose’s interest alone whereas Senator Makarfi and other members of the Caretaker Committee are using their positions to advance the course of their zones and the party. Like Governor Fayose his newly-found leader, Prince Adeyeye keeps shooting from the hips, fanning the embers of discord, abusing leaders of the party and issuing all manner of empty threats as if he has more stakes in the party than the others. He should desist from such posture. It does not speak well of him and it would not do the party any good.

On a final note, I would like to advise Prince Adeyeye to incline his ears to wisdom and apply his heart to understanding, for, as the Holy books say, out of it (the heart) flows the issues of life. He should learn from the maturity, calmness and candour that his principal, Senator Makarfi has shown all through the crisis, as a true party man. A word is enough for the wise.

Signed:
Senator Buruji Kashamu
Ogun East Senatorial District