Southwest leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have plans to survive intrigues being set against them.

By Gbenga Oke

GIVEN his position as  the only Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governor in the Southwest it was not out of place for Governor Ayodele Fayose to prepare his house for the forthcoming convention of the party.

The need for such preparation is against the background of the aspiration of at least five members of the party for the office of the national chairman of the party.

That aspiration is in the face of the determination of some other interested aspirants from other zones to contest for the position. Prominent among the contenders from outside the zone is media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who has been fanning across the country in preparation for the contest in December.

Ayodele Fayose

Fayose who called the meeting for last Monday at a highbrow hotel in the Ikeja area of Lagos was present to welcome invited senior party leaders. The meeting which kicked off about 9.00 pm lasted for about an hour before the media was briefed on the outcome of the meeting.

A few minutes before 10.00 pm, Governor Fayose came outside the hall to call the waiting journalists to proceed inside the small hall where other leaders of the party were gathered.

Position ahead of the convention

Besides Fayose, others present at the meeting were national party aspirants, Chief Bode George, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, party chieftain, Chief Dapo Sarumi, Chief Tajudeen Olarewanju, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo among others.

Speaking at the end of the closed-door meeting, Governor Fayose said “our aim is to take a position ahead of the convention. We don’t want to attend the convention with a divided house. Our aim is to go to the convention and come back with joy; not to be disappointed. We have to talk extensively and ensure everyone is happy with the meeting. We have decided that the meeting must be inclusive and all stakeholders must be present in the meetings”.

He went further: “The meeting was endorsed by our leaders here, and we all believe that it must not end here. All our stakeholders must be present at the next meeting, and if there is anybody that  refuse  to attend, we might consider that such a person has a different agenda”.

When Fayose was asked why former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel was absent at the forum, Fayose said, “Governor Daniel was unavoidably absent because he had a major development on his hands and he already sent a text message to that effect why he can’t make it to the meeting. But I assure you that from the next meeting, he will be here with us”.

In his submission, former Governor of Oyo State and a PDP chairmanship aspirant, Chief Rashidi Ladoja told all the leaders he is now a full member of the PDP.

Ladoja who seemed excited with his movement to the PDP openly showed everyone present at the meeting his new PDP membership card.

When asked about the position he is contesting for, he responded, “I am contesting for the national chairmanship of the party though I am yet to fully declare my intentions.”

His words: “Before the end of the month, I will declare my ambition. At this moment, I am still consulting. I have left Accord, and I am now a full member of PDP. I have obtained my membership card which I am holding wherever I go”.

Also speaking, Chief Tajudeen Olarewanju, said the meeting was called at the instance of the only PDP Governor in the Southwest and the leader of the party in the zone.

He said: “PDP in the Southwest has only one leader and he is Governor Fayose. He is the rallying point in the zone, and he is the one taking our position to the party at the national level ahead of the forthcoming convention.  The meeting is being held for all of us to take a position before the convention, and all other stakeholders in the zone will join the meeting subsequently.

“We have endorsed the calling of this meeting so that we can take a joint position before the convention. It is our privilege we have him, (Fayose) as our governor and from our next meeting, other stakeholders will be joining us which would be not long.”

Speaking further, Chief Bode George said he endorsed the meeting of the party members ahead of the convention.

According to him, “I have since endorsed the meeting called by Governor Fayose in our zone. This meeting will show the people that we are prepared and this is a solid ship and not any rudderless meeting.”

Also lending his voice, Chief Dapo Sarumi said the entire southwest zone is supporting Governor Fayose because he is the last man standing in the zone.

He said, “It gladdens my heart that those who thought that we are at loggerhead in South West have failed. But after this meeting, they will know that we are united.”