OPC crisis deepens as State coordinators head to Court

By FUNSO OMODELEOLA

CRISIS ridden Oodua Peoples Congress, (OPC), has taken a new twist as sacked state coordinators have headed to the Court to squash their suspension.

National Daily gathered that efforts made by the Congress trustees hit the wall as the two sides in the matter refused to yield grounds

It will be recalled that the sacked state coordinators, at a briefing in Kwara State urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), to probe how over N1billion find its way into Otunba Gani Adams the Congress’s National Leader’s bank account.

Otunba Adams while reacting to the petition sent to the EFCC said those who behind addressed the petition were dismissed former OPC coordinators in charge of Kwara, Ondo and Oyo states and were misguided at best.

According to him, the allegation that he collected N9billion from former President Goodluck Jonathan, and $22million from the late Libyan president, Mummar Ghadaffi, were unfounded.
Adams said he has never set foot on Libya, nor has he ever met the late Ghadaffi or any of his agents at any time.

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“I want to once again plead with the DSS to, as a matter of urgency, make sure that these people who have accused me of this grave crime are made to prove the source of their allegation, and if they are not able to do so, should be made to face prosecution for their actions.

“They should explain what the money is meant for and how it was sent to me. Such huge amount of money cannot be transferred to an individual secretly, so they need to do more explanation on how I allegedly received this money.

“I am not a war mercenary, and I am not sure that Ghadaffi was a Father Christmas who would want to give out such money as a gift.

“Our organisation is a peaceful socio-cultural group, with the sole aim of promoting the cultural heritage of Yoruba race,” Adams said.

On N9 billion allegedly received from Jonathan, Otunba Adams said the claim is laughable because not even Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidates got such amount to prosecute their campaigns.

He said the allegation was first made ahead of the general elections when it was alleged that his group got N9 billion for a pipelines surveillance contract.

The OPC leader said neither he nor OPC received a kobo from the government as payment for the contract.

Adams also dismissed allegations that he received N1.6billion from a former Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro.

“To the best of my knowledge, the last time that I saw the former minister was when he accompanied the former President to the National Confab. They need to explain to the world how I got the money and for what purpose it was meant for.

“Let me put the records straight here. I am neither a politician nor a PDP member. I have said it several times in the past that our support for the former president was based on our belief that he stood a better chance of implementing the recommendations of the National Confab, which we believed, and still believe will serve the interest of the Yoruba race better.

“I tell you, anything outside this is a lie and mere fabrication of those alleging it,” Adams said.

It will be recalled that crisis erupted in the ethnic militia and cultural group over the expulsion of some of its state coordinators and members for engaging in activities which the Congress’s national body claimed portrayed the group as a lawless organization.

In a statement signed by OPC Director of Media and Publicity, Yinka Oguntimehin, “the OPC expelled members who have exhibited gross anti-congress activities and acts that may bring the Congress to public ridicule.”

Those expelled are Marruf Salami (Kwara), Adeola Adeagbo (Oyo), Rotimi Akinsowon (Ondo), Boye Mayungbe (Baba Odua) and Akeem Ologburo (Bayelsa), all former coordinators.

“OPC over the years has come out of various negative perceptions and the Congress has through its activities, which include cultural promotions and humanitarian services, as well as complementing the efforts of security agencies especially in South West Nigeria.

“The formation of OPC spread across 63 countries over the world, won’t allow such ill mannered people to be in leadership positions, thereby breeding anti societal elements.

“Subsequently they have been replaced with Oguntunde Rotimi Olumo (Oyo), Pius Ogunsanya (Ondo) who will act as state coordinators and take charge of the state

secretariats while competent hands will soon be appointed for other states,” the statement said.

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However one of the expelled coordinators has described their expulsion as a nullity and with no effect. He stated that he and others will not vacate their offices as they have the full backing of their respective chapters

This development is coming on the heels of the crisis, the endorsement of former President Goodluck Jonathan caused in the group, which pitched members against the leadership congress

Some members were at loggerheads with the National Coordinator Chief Gani Adams over his open support for the candidacy of the President Goodluck Jonathan. As a result, there were accusations and counter accusations among members of the congress.

A development which led to OPC’s Public Relations Officer Shina Akinpelu alongside others; calling for the resignation of Adams for eroding the potency of the association because of his glaring political affiliation.

Akinpelu had also described Gani Adams as a serial liar, when reacting to the reports of his alleged expulsion from the group. He alleged then that money were given to Adams to campaign for President Jonathan in the South West.

Adams hit back at Akinpelu saying he had been expelled from the congress since 2014 and that he no longer has the right to speak on behalf of the congress.

Speaking on the membership status of Akinpelu then, the Oyo State Coordinator of OPC, Chief Adeagbo Adeola, said, Akinpelu was no longer the PRO of OPC in the state. Adeola Adeagbo is one of the state coordinators expelled recently

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An OPC member Tunji Yussuf said “OPC is not a political party and the organization cannot openly affiliate with a political party. Since 1999 OPC has been clamouring for Sovereign National Congress but Jonathan administration decided to listen to OPC. Specifically, he said President Jonathan had promised to implement what Yoruba elders propose at the conference, this was the basis of our relationship with the defunct administration.”

The battle for the soul of OPC has shifted to the Courts.