Though it is the ruling party of the central government, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is reduced to a skeletal level in the Southwest. Now, its new leadership in the zone under Prince Buruji Kashamu is aiming to revive the party. Can it?

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

LIKE the surprises it pulled off across the country, when it emerged from obscurity to become the dominant party in the South West geo-political zone, the  descent of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, towards extinction in the region, could pass for a sore on the thumb of the party.

Both party chieftains, and faithful are finding this development a hard pill to swallow, given that the glorious future which its overwhelming triumph at the 2003 general elections in the zone signaled, appears to be giving way to an era of apprehension.

The party which had the majority in the National Assembly before 2011, had its numerical strength reduced at the Senate and House of Representatives respectively. And it would not be surprising if the South West PDP, is bereft of any legislator at the NASS following the wave of defections currently being witnessed.

It is against this background of gloom that the National Vice Chairman, Southwest of the party, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has embarked on rescue mission, in order to reposition the party for electoral victory in the zone.
But the Ogun State born politician, is not leaving anyone in doubt about his desire to relaunch the party into prominence.

It was gathered that Kashamu commenced from his state by using his Omo Ilu Foundation to give succour to the people by empowering them.
Remarkably, many of those who would have defected to other parties were encouraged to return, just as members of other parties were wooed to join the PDP.

For instance at an event on August 11, 2013, no fewer than 5,000 people defected to the PDP from other parties. Of these, 3,250 alone came from Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN, while others were from All Progressives Congress, APC, and Labour Party, LP,

The defectors were; Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, a former State Secretary of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) and Commissioner for Education under Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration, and Otunba Adeleke Adekoya, a former chairmanship candidate of the PPN in Ijebu North LGA.

On the heels of that, was the defection of over 15,000 people, who were led by Chief Rafiu Ogunleye, a former deputy governor of the state and former Ogun State chairman of the ACN, a function in Abeokuta.
An elated Ogunleye hinged his action on the efforts made by Kashamu.

“This great journey started on the fateful day when Prince Buruji Kashamu came to my home in Itele-Ijebu in company of the state chairman of PDP, Engr Bayo Dayo, Otunba Ola Kukoyi, Prince Fakoya and Chief Dele Odulaja to ask me and my group, Imole, for partnership in PDP. Here we are today. The rest, to the glory of Almighty God, is history that is taking place today in the ancient city of Abeokuta, the capital of my dear state. Today is an eventful and remarkable day in my life, but I must let you know that after going through the constitution of PDP, I discovered that PDP is a very progressive and truly democratic,” he stated.

Aside, his state, party faithful in the zone, told Vanguard that Kashamu has been supportive of all the state executives in the zone in their bid to rebuild the party, particularly in the area of membership drive.
Commenting on that, Chairman of the Caretaker Committee for the South West PDP, Chief Ishola Filani, said that but for the support of Kashamu, the party’s plight would have been beyond redemption.

Also applauding the success recorded Ogun State chairman of the PDP, Mr. Adebayo Dayo, said the new lease of life which the party is experiencing, is traceable to the determination of Kashamu to see that the party bounces back to reckoning.

“Prince Kashamu is the brain behind the current growth we are experiencing in the party in this zone,” he said as he praised the efforts of the zonal leadership towards rebuilding the party.
Kashamu on his part is unwavering in his efforts towards reviving the fortunes of the party in the zone.

“I’m ready to commit myself to ensuring the success of the PDP governorship candidate in Ekiti State during the forthcoming election. It would be a shame on my part if I fail to do that. I’m ready to do the same thing in Osun, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Oyo states.”

In addition, he said, ‘’as an individual, there is a limit to what one can do. On my own, through the Omo Ilu Foundation, I have done a bit to improve the lot of our people. But how many people can a person or even a group touch? For everyone we help, there are many more we wish to help but can’t help due to resource constraints. T

Kashamu Buruji

hat is why I am passionate about having the PDP in control in the South West because that is the party that has the concerns of the masses at heart. The PDP is the only party that can help the masses. The APC, it has become clear, is only interested in grabbing power at all cost and visiting untold hardships on the people,” he once said.

Perhaps to push his way through the Southwest region, the Kashamu leadership in the zone has been careful to follow the path of political exigency in advocating a second term for the president.
Kashumu who interestingly was at one time aligned with former President Olusegun Obasanjo but is now known to have shifted base to President Goodluck Jonathan is now at the forefront in advocating a second term for the president.

Accordingly, he said, “those fighting Jonathan don’t love Nigeria; their intention is not just to upstage the president but to destroy the country. Once someone has been elected into office, we must support such a person

until his tenure is over. What the APC is doing is destroying Nigeria. Attempting to pull down the president to score political point will not help the nation.

In that same manner, he had said that the five aggrieved PDP governors, who left the party did so out of selfish interest.
“Many of the governors have served second term, why should they oppose anyone who has a similar ambition? Some of them have issues with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that they want the Federal Government to help starve off. Pray, if they do not have skeleton in the cupboard, why are they afraid of the anti-graft agency,” he added.

Expatiating further, he said, “northerners should not see Jonathan as their enemy, he is a friend to the northerners. If was an enemy, he would not have declared a state of emergency in the North Eastern states; he would have also sacked all the democratic structures and appointed Sole Administrators like Obasanjo did in Ekiti State where he appointed Maj.-Gen. Adetunji Olurin (rtd) as Sole Administrator.