12th September, 2014
Jamiu Yisa
The lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives,, James Abiodun Faleke, has distanced himself from Cardinal James Odumbaku’s alleged romance with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, saying he won’t quit the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Faleke, while speaking with P.M.NEWS Friday cleared himself of the unholy romance with the opposition party, adding that he remains a staunch member of the APC.
The two-term chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, was reacting to the story making the round in the camp of the Lagos State chapter of the APC that the state Deputy Chairman of the party, Odunmbaku, was planning to defect to the rival PDP.
His words: “Because of my closeness to Cardinal Odunmbaku, I have received countless phone calls, text messages and emails since the story broke out that our leader was allegedly defecting to the PDP, wanting to know if am joining the opposition party with him.
“I’m never and was never involved in any meeting between Odunmbaku, Bode George and the PDP on his alleged decamping issue. Am stating here categorically that I am not aware of such much move and to tell the whole world that I still remain a staunch and committed member of the APC. I have never at any point in time engaged in any unholy alliance or romance with the PDP or anybody at that,” he said.
An online medium, thegazellenews.com, had earlier reported that that Odunmbaku had met with some representatives of PDP, including former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George.
According to the medium, there have been many contentious issues in the past which have further confirmed that Odunmbaku might have decided to dump the APC.
“One of such was the mega rally organised for Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun prior to the governorship election in Osun State on Tuesday, 5th August, 2014. Cardinal Odunmbaku was conspicuously missing at the event. Although it was confirmed that he was outside the country, he never informed the Osun Governor and the leadership of the party of his intention to travel which many termed as deliberate.”
However, Odunmbaku, during a press conference yesterday, dismissed the insinuations that he is leaving the party for the PDP. He said he has no such plan even as he denied that former Governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seriously ill.
Odunmbaku who has been on medical vacation abroad returned to the state on Wednesday, 10 September, 2014.
Debunking the rumour that he (Odunmbaku) had parted ways with Tinubu and the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Deputy State Chairman of APC declared at the press conference attended by several party faithful, that the rumour was an outright figment of the imagination of those seeking the downfall of APC.
He said the relationship between him and the duo remains solid. “Couple of weeks ago, I was not in good state of health and had to take time off. I know there had been a lot of rumours flying around. I wish to reiterate that today, I am a member of our great party and a member of the Governing Advisory Committee and still remains the Deputy State Chairman of APC Lagos,” Odunmbaku explained.
He disclosed that he led an army of prayer warriors to Ile-Ife, Osogbo and Ede in Osun during the electoral campaigns of Governor Aregbesola despite his health condition then.
Odunmbaku thanked Lagosians for their support and unwavering love for the party through the years. He, however, solicited for their unflinching support for the party during the coming general elections.