Kogi ex-deputy governor wants PDP to elect fearless party chair

A former deputy Governor of Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi has charged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure that it sustained its present momentum of cohesion to elect a credible chairman in today’s national convention.

Awoniyi told The Guardian in Lokoja in a telephone interview that he felt something positive was about happening in the PDP.

“We need a chairman who is fearless, untainted and who can really be the face of the new PDP. If we succeed in putting all these in place, we are on the rebound because the Nigerian electorate is quite knowledgeable now, as they are more discerning as to what governance, leadership and the dividends of democracy should be,” said.

He noted that it was very heart warming to know that the PDP was resurging back to life in a very remarkable manner, following its victory at the Supreme Court.

He said a very clear testament was in the enthusiasm people exhibited during the recent ward and council congresses in Kogi State.

“All the leaders from far and wide were present in their various wards and it was most remarkable not only in MopaMoro Council but other councils across the west senatorial district where so many defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) registered their presence forcefully in our party,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims of microzoning for today’s national convention.

Wike also observed that even if the Southwest geopolitical zone was to produce the next national chairman, it would not change the fortunes of the PDP in the zone, which is under the firm grip of the APC.

The governor, who is one of the main supporters of the party’s former national acting chairman, Uche Secondus, argued that the issue of microzoning and gentleman’s agreement as claimed by some persons does not arise. 

“The so-called microzoning is being floated by a Presidential Aspirant from the North supported by campaign officials of Tunde Adeniran.

He explained that the presidential position of the party for the 2019 general election had been zoned to the North and the national chairmanship slot zoned to the South.

He, however, regretted that some PDP national chairmanship aspirants have since resorted to blackmail, simply because they lost the contention for the delegates, adding that Secondus stood a better chance to emerge chairman.  

Reacting to Wike’s comments, former Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran yesterday urged delegates to the convention to bear in mind that the party was currently suffering from its past mistakes.
 
Adeniran, a contender for the national chairmanship position in a statement yesterday said: “At this particular junction, our appeal goes to the delegates to remember that the challenge we are facing today is because of the mistake of the past.
 
“We have to do things right this time around. The era of imposition and impunity must come to an end. And the only way we can do this is to shame those impostors who believe they can buy our votes with their looted money.”