ABEOKUTA—THE Chairman of the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bashorun Dayo Soremi, has allayed the fears of party members over the state’s ministerial nominees.

He spoke against the backdrop of the protests that greeted announcement of the names of former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Amb. Gbenga Ashiru and an executive of Rockefeller Foundation, Mr. Adewunmi Adesina, as ministerial nominees.

In a statement yesterday, Soremi said the State Executive Council, (Exco) of the party was happy at the civilised manner that aggrieved party members went about ventilating their views.

He, however, said that while most of their fears could not be wished away, the party leadership was in touch with the nominees to ensure that they do not disappoint the people.

Soremi also distanced his Exco from the purported inauguration of a “PDP Youth Vanguard” and the emergence of former Presidential aide, Mrs Titi Ajanaku, as leader of PDP Women’s Forum.

He said the December 20, 2010 suspension of the former Secretary of the party, Chief Pegba Otemolu, still stands, adding that his assistant, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo, is the acting Secretary.

The statement reads in part: “We note with interest the anger and protests that have greeted the nominations of Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru and Mr. Adewunmi Adesina as ministerial candidates. The reactions of our party leaders, elders and stakeholders were not unexpected. That is the beauty of democracy.

“But we wish to assure our teeming party members that the leadership of the party is on top of the situation. We are in touch with the nominees and they have promised that they will be good ambassadors of the state.

Soremi warned against indiscipline among party members, adding that any attempt to undermine his Exco will be dealt with, according to the party’s constitution and the laws of the land