Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Ondo PDP resolves differences over Jonathan’s re-election bid

By Niyi Bello. Akure
20 January 2015   |   4:17 am
THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has commenced moves to resolve the protracted leadership crisis plaguing the party to put it on a stronger platform to win the state for President Goodluck Jonathan in next month’s general elections.   The party in a meeting convened by the Special Adviser to the President on…

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has commenced moves to resolve the protracted leadership crisis plaguing the party to put it on a stronger platform to win the state for President Goodluck Jonathan in next month’s general elections.

  The party in a meeting convened by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of the Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku during the weekend in Akure, the state capital, resolved to put the challenges caused by the defection of the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko aside and work to win the state for Jonathan.

   This is coming on the heels of an announcement by a prominent member of the party and former State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Yemi Alao, that he remains a committed member of the party even though a lot of people have been mounting pressures on him to defect to the rival All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Alao who also attended the Akure meeting, had prior to the parley in a release made available to The Guardian, debunked rumours that he was contemplating leaving the PDP for the APC saying he decided to remain in his party after wide consultations with political associates.

    According to him, “It is true that I was approached by a few of my friends and political colleagues on the option of joining the APC. However, after sincere soul-searching coupled with extensive consultations with my political associates, I came to the inescapable conclusion that, for me, it was not a viable option at all.”

    Although he admitted that “the current political tension in our beloved country is less than satisfactory”, he said there is room for “improvement across and within parties if the interest of our nation is to be preserved. This calls for deep introspection, fervent prayers and a renewed resolve by all well-meaning citizens to place national interest above partisan politics.”

    The Akure meeting which was attended by leaders of the old PDP ilk and thousands of their supporters drawn from across the 18 local councils of the state, the party resolved that while still awaiting the outcome of the court cases instituted over the selection of candidates, members should ensure the victory of PDP candidates in the February elections.

   The meeting, which was presided over by the candidate of the party in the last gubernatorial poll, Olusola Oke, however unanimously rejected the appointment of one Tokunbo Modupe, a nominee of the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, as the coordinator of the Goodluck Campaign in the state.

    The parley therefore resolved to mandate Oke, to see the governor with the demand that Modupe’s name should be removed, a refusal of which will make members of the old PDP to float their own campaign platform for the president’s re-election.

   The well-attended meeting also assured Jonathan of their resolve and preparedness to work for his reelection after which all issues bedeviling the party would be revisited for resolution

0 Comments