By Ola Ajayi, Ibadan

PROMINENT members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South West including the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, met, yesterday, in Ibadan, and agreed to embrace the reconciliatory moves by the national leaders of the party to brighten the chances of the party in future election.

While speaking on the theme of the meeting tagged: ”Working together to regenerate our party in line with the spirit of the founding facilitators,” Bankole said the need to support the peace moves was necessary to put the party again in its right position.

The meeting was initiated by the South-West PDP Board of Trustees.Those in attendance included Teslim Folarin, the national vice chairman and zonal chairman of the party, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe; former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; former deputy governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi; Senator Buruji Kashamu and former Minister of Sports, Prof Taoheed Adedoja.

Bankole said: “There will not be reconciliation without negotiation. I attended this meeting because it is targeted at negotiating and reconciling forces in the party. The option of going to court will not take this party anywhere and I will not be a part of it. This kind of meeting is not complete without some key figures that are still aggrieved out there. The South-West wing of the party must emulate what our national leaders are doing so that we can align and remain a strong force.”

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting which was read by Prof. Adedoja, the party stated that: “The Forum recognises the role of BoT members, our able governors, National Assembly members, founding fathers and other critical stakeholders in bringing about peace in our party.

We commend the spirits of sportsmanship exhibited by both Senator Makarfi and Senator Sherif joint committees in thrusting national peace and harmony in the party. We also commend the leadership and membership of PDP in Edo state at the last gallant fight in the last governorship election in the state.

“The Forum stands firmly by them in their efforts to retrieve the stolen mandate. It also urges members and leaders of PDP in Ondo State to close ranks and work together as a solid and united team to sustain the control of the state by PDP in the next election.” It also admonished the leadership of the party to clearly zone the position of the national chairmanship to the Southwest saying it was the only zone that has never held such position before.