Aregbesola Asks PDP to Demolish Party Secretariat

Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has written to the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, asking him to demolish parts of the party secretariat to  create space for road setback which the administration is embarking upon.

The notice was contained in a letter written to the PDP chairman by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Lands, Phisical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Ayodele Owoade.

A copy of the letter as made available to our correspondent in Osogbo by the special adviser on Tuesday.

He said that although the PDP chairman challenged the planned demolition of the party secretariat in court but the court struck out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.

The letter read in part, "You will recollect that you challenged the (demolition) exercise at the High Court which made us to stop it as a responsible government who observes the rule of law. The matter which you brought to the case has since been struck out leaving us with no legal impediment to carry out the demolition exercise.

"Attached is the court order for your information and necessary action. We therefore, advise you to voluntarily carry out the demolition exercise in the spirit of Omoluabi ethos which we are sure would have been ingrained in you."

According to the court order attached to the letter addressed to the PDP chairman, Justice A. A. Aderibigbe of an Osogbo High Court struck out the suit filed by the PDP chairman to challenge the planned demolition.

The judgment read, "I agree with the counsel for the defendants ( governor) that the plaintiff and his counsel have not been diligent in their handling of this case. The pending application for injunction filed on July 22, 2013 and the entire suit filed on the same day are hereby struck out for want of diligent prosecution."

But the PDP chairman who warned the governor against going ahead with the demolition. He said that such action would be resisted vehemently by the party.

Olaoluwa explained that the PDP had filed a motion to reenlist the suit already struck out.

He said, "The PDP is a party that has respect for the rule of law but  any attempt to demolish the fence of the Goodluck/Sambo campaign office will be restricted vehemently.

We are admonishing  the Director of SSS, state police commissioner not to allow themselves to be used by Aregbesola in his efforts at pulling down the campaign office of President Goodluck Jonathan.