Why Oyo PDP must wake up now, by Farounbi

A former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr Yemi Farounbi, yesterday, said that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State must wake up for it to win elections in the future.

Farounbi, who spoke with The Guardian in Ibadan, said the PDP is not visible in the state but its government, led by Governor Seyi Makinde, is doing well.

He said the executives of the PDP were not projecting the party to be in the minds of the residents.

“I see a PDP government that is doing well, but I don’t see the PDP itself. I don’t have a feel of its existence. Perhaps, it has a structure somewhere. I haven’t heard of a PDP state executive meeting in a state or a working committee of the PDP taking a position.

“I also unfortunately cannot see the APC. I see a few people. But the PRO of APC still talks. Nobody knows who the PDP PRO is. I don’t know the PRO. I’m not sure.”

According to the elder statesman, political parties are critical, not individuals in electoral victory.

“I don’t know many of your state people who know the PRO of PDP or even the officials of the party. They appear to have been overwhelmed by the image of the government. But at the election, it’s the party that will contend. The case of Rotimi Ameachi versus Celestine Omehia comes to mind where the Supreme Court said votes belonged to parties. It is parties that win, not individuals. So, the PDP needs to wake up so that it can be in the mind of the people,” he further said.