The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ile-Ife, home town of the Director of Media and Publicity of the party’s Presidential Campaign Committee, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has risen in strong defence of Fani-Kayode declaring that he remains a loyal member of the party in the town.

The Chairman of the party in ward 05, Iremo, Ile-Ife, Mr Rasheed Ojikuti, while addressing a press conference in Ile-Ife on Friday said the party at the ward level was in support of Fani-Kayode, who he described as a committed and financial member of the party.

Also, the PDP leader warned members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to stop victimizing the former Aviation Minister and allow him to remain in the party.

The PDP Leader noted that Fani-Kayode had contributed financially to the party at both the ward, local, state and national level, stressing that the commitment of the former Aviation Minister to the sustenance of the party in Ile-Ife and Osun state at large was unequivocal.

National Working Committee of the PDP had through the National Secretary of the party, Professor Wale Oladipo directed the Osun state chairman of the party, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa to authenticate the membership status of Fani-Kayode.

However, Ojikutu recalled that Fani-Kayode was issued the party’s membership card in Iremo ward 05 ward, Ile-Ife when he defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, stressing that he had since been contributing well to the party at all levels.

According to him “Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is a loyal and bonafide member of the PDP. He was issued a membership card of the party in our ward here in Ile-Ife, his home town when he returned to the party
following relentless and intense pressure from us, and 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 party at all levels.”

He described the former Minister as a great pillar of support and beacon of light to the party in Ile-Ife and Osun state at large, adding that the contributions of Fani-Kayode to the PDP at national levels could also not be under-estimated.

He added that “it came to us as a surprise that despite the immense and contributions of Chief Fani-Kayode to the PDP at all levels, the National Working Committee of the party is seeking disciplinary action against him just because he joined other great party leaders like Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state in calling for NWC members to go home after leading the party to its worst election in its 16 years of history.

“We wonder why among all the people that raised similar issue, only Chief Fani-Kayode has been singled out for a planned sanction. Could this be a deliberate plan to victimize this great man and force him out of the party he labored so much for?

“If it is so, we assure Nigerians that we shall stand by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and his likes to the end no matter the cost to our persons and offices.

“We abhor victimization, injustice and tyranny, and we shall prove this with all our strength and everything at our disposal in the coming days unless those concerned retrace their steps,” he added.

The PDP stalwart maintained that “anyone from Ile-Ife who tries to embarrass our leaders, be it Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Chief Iyiola Omisore or any other leader is a traitor and shall be treated as such.”

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the party in the South West, Mr Dare Adeleke has warned the NWC members of the party not to make Fani-Kayode a scape goat for challenging them, saying the statement made by the erstwhile Aviation Minister was in the interest of the party.

He noted that Fani-Kayode should be applauded for his courage rather than being victimized by the NWC.

Adeleke who is a former Chairman, Caretaker committee of the party in Ondo State said “if Adamu Muazu could resign as the National Chairman of the party, and Chief Tony Anenih could also resign as the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party, there is nothing that stops other NWC members from resigning.”

He cautioned the leadership of the party against victimization of members, stressing that “this is not the best time for the PDP to victimize any of its members or witch hunt them”.