PDP chair in Ibadan for ‘umbrella-mending’

GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN

Leaders of Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party, today reviewed the state of the party in Western Nigeria, years after losing governorship posts to the Action Congress of Nigeria.

At a meeting today with the national chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur, at Premier Hotel, Mokola Ibadan speakers took turns to lament the loss, blaming lack of internal democracy within their fold.

Tukur was in Ibadan to hold a town hall meeting with members of the party in the Southwest as part of efforts to reconcile factions within the party in the zone, a move that was tainted with the loud absence of supporters of the former Nigerian leader, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Tukur, in his speech, harped on the need for reconciliation, urging members to go back to their respective states and iron out their differences.

The chairman who was of the view that that it is only true reconciliation that can guarantee a very robust party stated that Southwest is very important and strategic adding, “only peaceful co-existence and cordial relationship among members will assist us to win the party back the zone”.

In her own speech, the Minister of State for Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada noted that the party in the zone was ready to take power back from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Pointing out that PDP members now know the difference between being in power and being out of power, Obada said, “We have now learnt our lessons. Many things were taken for granted when our party was in the saddle. It is very important that we reconcile and forget the past”.

Also, the former Governor of Ondo State, Chief Olusegun Agagu, who spoke on behalf of the former governors in the zone lamented that the party had witnessed lots of arbitrariness in the past, blaming same for the crisis rocking the party.

Reiterating that lack of internal democracy is the major cause of disharmony, Agagu called for formation of reconciliation team in each of the state to look at the issues and come up with recommendations on ways to address them.

Chieftains and members of the party came from Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Lagos and Ondo States.

Among the PDP chieftains that attended the meeting were: the national Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, former Governors Ekiti and Osun States, Mr. Ayodele Fayose and Isiaka Adeleke respectively, former Deputy Governor, Osun State, Iyiola Omisore, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, former Special Adviser on Media to Adebayo Alao-Akala, Shuaibu Oyedokun, Yekini Adeojo, member of Board of Trustees of the party, Senator Hosea Agboola, Taoheed Adedoja, former Minister of Sports and, majority leader, House of Representatives, Honourable Mrs. Mulikat Akande.

Others include: Abimbola Ogunkemi, Yomi Phillip, Dupe Sasore, and Ade Dosunmu from Lagos State, former South west leader of the party, Tajudeen Oladipo, former Minister of Agriculture Mr. Bamidele Dada, and former Ogun State Speaker, Mrs. Titi Oseni.