The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has confirmed the membership status of former minister of aviation and spokesman of the PDP presidential campaign organization in the general elections, Chief Femi Fani-Kyode, saying he is a strong pillar of the party.
The national leadership of the party had last Wednesday through the party’s national secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo, questioned Fani-Kayode’s membership of the party and asked its Osun State chapter where he hails from to ascertain the authenticity of his membership, for calling on the National Working Committee to resign following the party’s defeat at the recently conducted general elections.
Addressing newsmen weekend, the state PDP chairman and secretary, Mr. Rasheed Ojikutu and Ahmed Yusuf expressed surprise that despite the “immense” and “cogent contributions” of Fani-Kayode in the party, the NWC is seeking disciplinary action against him, saying the NWC members should retrace their steps as the Osun State chapter would stand by the former minister.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to reiterate that Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is a bona-fide member of our great party and was issued a membership card from our ward in April of 2014, after his return from the APC following relentless and intense pressure from us. Since then, he has been contributing immensely and generously, far above the statutory required levies, both in cash and in kind, to the continued growth of our great party at all levels.
“This makes him to be in good financial standing with the party. These, no doubt, must have informed his appointment as Presidential Spokesman to President Olusegun Obasanjo, two-time Minister of the Federal Republic, and recently, the Director of Media and Publicity of the Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation where he gave face and voice to the PDP that was almost invisible before the campaign organization was inaugurated by the President,” they said.
