The embattled Publicity Secretary insisted that the alleged suspension was political and unjust because there was no fair hearing.
Suspended Afenifere's National Publicity Secretary, Mr Jare Ajayi, has alleged that he and the National Organising Secretary were not given the opportunity to defend themselves on whatever allegations the group leaders deemed they breached.
Recall that Afenifere leader Pa Ayo Adebanjo and other group leaders sacked its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, and National Organising Secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, for making unauthorised statements in the group's name and constant denigration of the organisation.
According to Vanguard, while speaking on the development, Ajayi said: “I, and to the best of my knowledge, Abagun Kole Omololu, the National Organising Secretary, were never issued a query let alone be asked to face any disciplinary committee. It is a big pity that an organisation founded on principles and that is guided by ethos and regulations could take seeming disciplinary actions against any member – not to talk of officials – without giving them an opportunity to respond to whatever allegations the leaders have against them.”
He added, “In the heat of the sufferings being experienced by Nigerians in accessing their monies in the banks, I called on the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria to extend the deadline for the circulation of both the old and the new Naira notes by at least three months. This was early in February before the pronouncement by the Supreme Court. A top officer of Afenifere called me to say that what I asked the government to do was not the position of the organisation. I asked him what the position was, the senior officer told me that the position will be stated after a meeting that was being contemplated. I said that people were suffering hence the statement I issued. And thereafter, the position of the organisation on the issue was never made known to me.
“The second occasion was when some members called me to express their displeasure over the statement issued to congratulate the President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, after his electoral victory. Those who called me said that since Mr. Peter Obi and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar were still contesting Asiwaju’s victory, it was wrong to congratulate him.”
“These are the only two occasions when some at the top level of the organisation have expressed their opinions on the statements I issued. And the opinions so expressed did not come in form of queries from the appropriate quarters nor was I, or Abagun Kole Omololu, invited to face any disciplinary committee”.
The embattled Publicity Secretary insisted that the alleged suspension was political and unjust because there was no fair hearing.