Eniola Olayemi
Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prof. Tunde Adeniran, would from Monday act as the de facto national chairman of the SDP, it was learnt on Friday.
The development followed the official resignation of the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae.
A statement by the National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, explained: “The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae, GCON, has officially stepped aside from his position. He communicated his decision to the Party on Friday January 8, 2019.
“Chief Falae, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Minister of Finance, predicated his decision on personal reasons which bordered on his desire to retire from active partisan politics.
“He had earlier indicated his intention to step aside on turning 80 but was prevailed upon to tarry till after the 2018 National Convention of the Party.
“Thereafter, he once again expressed his readiness to quit after the successful Convention, but was made to stay back to steer the Party out of the litigation that emanated from the presidential primaries of the party.
“He was made to understand that as the leader of the party, it was not good for him to leave the Party in the midst of internal squabbles. He therefore stayed back.
“In taking this final decision, he has recommended, in line with the party Constitution, that the Deputy National Chairman (South), Professor Tunde Adeniran, OFR should step in, effective Monday January 11, 2019 as the de facto National Chairman in acting capacity pending ratification at the next National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and National Convention thereafter.
“Professor Tunde Adeniran, a former Minister of Education and Ambassador to Germany comes with a vast wealth of experience garnered over long years in academia, public service, as a public intellectual and as a political party administrator.
“His coming as National Chairman offers the hope of robustly re positioning the party as a major force in Nigeria’s political arena and as a credible national alternative party.
“He will sustain and build on the great achievement of the former National Chairman while further promoting the core values and ideologies of the party which centre on social justice, equity, human dignity, good governance and well-being of the Nigerian people.“
