Hon. Isaac Kekemeke, suspended Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, has stated that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu was the mastermind behind his removal.
He said it was unfortunate that Akeredolu instigated members of the State Executive Committee to suspend him, when he was actually working against a gang-up against him that was gaining momentum.
The SEC had removed Kekemeke last week for among others, abandoning the party secretariat and refusing to summon a meeting in the last seven months.
Reacting, he said: "It is not true that I abandoned the party secretariat. The last time that the governor and I were at the party secretariat was when he went to pick his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and we were at the party secretariat together.
"Thereafter, I have been at the party secretariat many times to do some administrative work. The party secretary is always at the secretariat. But the difference between those making the allegations and I is that I have a second office and I have a job.
"I have something else to do, I don't just go and wait at the party secretariat. I have told them that the essence of a political party is to capture power. We worked day and night, I left my practice and we worked hard to get power.
"At the federal level, we got 54 percent in the presidential election, as against the expectation of the party that all they needed from us in Ondo State was 25 percent. We won in the National Assembly elections and we stayed and worked to win the governorship election.
"Naturally, when the government enters, party activities slow down. That is not to say that we are not doing the skeletal activities but once a political party captures power, the attention shifts and focuses on the government. They should go and see what is happening at the national secretariat in Abuja".
Revealing the plot against Akeredolu, Kekemeke disclosed that "They want me to call a meeting so that we can fight this same governor they are protesting did not give them appointments.
"I said 'no, you cannot use me to fight the governor.' This is the same governor you were projecting and promoting; you now want me to call a meeting to say that he must look for offices for you. I won't do that. Why would you want me to lead a fight; why would you want me to provide the avenue and platform for your fight?
"If the governor does not want to relate with you, do you force yourself on him? I will not. I have spoken with the governor to say 'let me lead the party executives to meet with you'. He has promised that when he has time he would give us an appointment to see him."
Kekemeke stated that his suspension is not binding because those behind it did not follow the position of the party's constitution.
"This song with its familiar and cacophonic tune was scripted by Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, Governor of Ondo State, who has refused to break away from the bitterness and vestige of the Ondo State APC gubernatorial primary election and has therefore deployed state machinery to vilify perceived enemies, resulting in this latest choreography with a macabre sense of humour.
"Who conveyed that meeting? Did it have my authority? Did the Secretary of the party convey the meeting? Two, who were those that attended the meeting? Three, do they have the power and authority to do what they did? I am the only elected officer of the party during the 2014 congresses. All others came through adoptions and consensus.
"I'm not just party chairman in Ondo, I am an officer of the zone and an officer of the national executive. Nobody has disciplinary powers over me at this level. If you have any complaints, make them to the zonal executive which looks into and then forwards to the national executive committee which then comes to a conclusion.
"By the provisions and letters of our constitution, only a higher level of authority can discipline a particular officer of the party. That's why I laugh at them' it's laughable".
Kekemeke further rubbished allegation that he expended party funds without due process.
"Which money? For almost two years, I didn't touch one kobo of the party money for my transportation to party functions. I don't use party money to fuel car, to buy newspapers, for phone calls, for entertainment. I don't use party money for anything. The only thing the party does is to repair its vehicles.
"The records are there. I am not the only signatory to the account of the party. I don't keep party money. Party money is not kept in anybody's house. Under me, party money is not available to anybody to be used for personal things."
