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Tag: PDP

  • ‘No councillor, PDP official was suspended’

    A report that Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose ordered the suspension of some councillors and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains for supporting governorship aspirants other than Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola is false, it was learnt yesterday.

    In a statement in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the fact that the governor had declared support for Olusola for the PDP governorship ticket did not stop other leaders and members of the PDP from also exercising their democratic rights of supporting aspirants of their choice.

    He said: “During the meeting called by the governor on Sunday, he announced publicly that the meeting was for those in support of the deputy governor’s governorship ambition and not a general meeting of PDP members.

    “The governor then urged those supporting other aspirants to leave the meeting, saying he had no issue with anyone supporting aspirants of his or her choice.

    “The position expressed by the governor in the meeting was simple and should be understandable to clear-minded people because there was no how supporters of other aspirants would be allowed to attend a meeting in which issues bordering on the aspiration of Prof Olusola would be discussed.

    “Therefore, the report that Governor Fayose ordered the suspension of any councillor or any official of the PDP in the state for supporting any aspirant is false and should be disregarded…”

  • Obaseki okays teachers’ promotion, clears three years backlog

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the promotion of teachers in public primary schools in the state.

    The outstanding promotions approved by Governor Obaseki covers three years, from 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    Obaseki has also directed that promotion letters be issued to the affected teachers by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

    Acting Chairperson, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, said: “the details of the promotion letters are being finalised. A list of the teachers affected by the directive of the governor will be sent out to education secretaries in the Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) indicating teachers who have been promoted across the 18 local government areas.”

    Dr. Oviawe explained that, “Clearing the backlog of promotion for teachers speaks to the prevailing narrative that Governor Obaseki cares about the welfare and wellbeing of teachers in the state.

    “The governor’s directive has further demonstrated his commitment beyond mere rhetoric. He has continued to display maximum support to provide conducive environment for effective teaching and learning.”

    Noting that lifting the ban on the promotion of teachers in primary schools is significant, she added, “This will enable the state government achieve the objectives of Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST).”

    Read Also: Be prudent with funds, Obaseki tells LG chairmen

  • PDP descending into a party of shame, says Orubebe

    A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Godsday Orubebe, has urged the party to embrace urgent reforms to prevent its demise.

    He lamented that the PDP “is still lost in depression and suffering from a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), adding that the platform had crossed the bridge from pride to shame.”

    Orubebe noted that imposition, impunity, arrogance and greed were responsible for the party’s electoral defeat in 2015, stressing that the crisis rocking the platform was compounded by the mishandling of its last national convention.

    The party stalwart, who caused a stir during the collation of the 2015 presidential election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja,  said the PDP would need vigour, courage and sustainable ideas to bounce back to reckoning.

    In an open letter to the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, published in this edition, the former minister said the party must accept that it made mistakes while in power for 16 years.

    Chiding the party for not living up to expectation as a leading opposition platform, he said: “We have gone from a party of pride to a party of shame and gradually receding into the abyss of political reality. For the simple reason that the nation is witnessing calls for the rise of a “third force,” we are fast becoming a shadow of ourselves.”

    In Orubebe’s reckoning, the PDP had regressed to the same imposition, impunity, arrogance and greed that heralded its electoral misfortune, adding that its leaders are not building a culture of democratic representation.

    Referring to the domineering role of the PDP governors, he said “the party is gradually coming under the control of certain individuals, who are exhibiting dangerous levels of undemocratic behaviours.”

    The former minister said unless the grandstanding and imposition gave way to a healthy competition, the party could avert a looming doom.

    He said the party should be liberated from the jaw of its exclusive funders, who have held it hostage.

    Orubebe said: One of the biggest challenges that the PDP faces is balancing its needs for funding with established egalitarian values and internal systems. If the party continues to be held hostage by few major donors, it will continue to find it difficult to instil the values that will endear us Nigerians.

    “We must take our appeal to Nigerians and through our reforms, let the party truly become a people-funded party. Small donations from millions of Nigerians will go a long way in the party’s finan cial requirements and will create the necessary atmosphere for true ownership among members of the party.”

    Urging the party leadership to embrace reforms, Orubebe said the leadership should re-organise to break down the silos of loyalty and allegiance within the party.

    He added: “It is my expectation that the necessary reforms will be put in place before it is too late to salvage what we have left.”

     

     

  • PDP tasks Buhari on recovery of stolen IDP funds

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately recover over N28 billion meant for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the northeast.

    The party alleged that the said funds were stolen by members of the Presidency cabal and certain Interests in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a statement on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition party said the Presidency and the APC are not being sincere with the IDPs by providing cover for those who have been frittering away billions of naira donated for the well-being of victims of insurgency.

    It further stated that the President cannot in all honesty claim not to be aware of reported sharp practices, involving billions of naira in the management of funds in the Presidential Initiative for the North East, since the issues came into public domain.

    “Indeed, the Presidency cannot, in any way imaginable, claim not to be aware of reports that sometime in August 2017, a cabinet minister and a high ranking Presidency official were alleged to have diverted N18 billion from the N48 billion approved by the National Assembly for the rehabilitation of millions of IDPs and rebuilding of six Northeast states ravaged by insurgency in the 2017 budget.

     

  • Oyo 2019: Can PDP survive its crisis?

    There is anxiety in the Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The supporters of two chieftains, former Governor Rashidi Ladoja and Seyi Makinde, who are struggling for the control of the party, are locked in a battle of mutual suspicion and distrust. Ladoja has threatened to defect from the platform. Can the troubled chapter survive the crisis? BISI OLADELE examines the implications of the disunity on the party as it prepares for next year’s elections. 

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State is addicted to crises. As it is struggling to put behind it the Makarfi/Sheriff rift, the troubled chapter is being torn apart by the struggle between former Governor Rashidi Ladoja and a chieftain, Seyi Makinde, over the control of the party machinery.

    Ladoja and Makinde, an engineer like the former governor, recently returned to the party, following reconciliation with aggrieved stalwarts. Ladoja left the fold in 2011. Makinde left in 2015. Both are the main strong leaders of the party with mass appeal.

    While Ladoja dumped the PDP for the Accord Party, shortly before the 2011 general elections, Makinde left for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), shortly before the 2015 elections. Another chieftain, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, also dumped the party for the Labour Party (LP) in 2015 and later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after failing to win the governorship election. He has not retraced his steps.

    While Akala rejected the offer to return late last year, the former PDP governorship candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin, left for the APC. The development left Ladoja as the leader of the ‘new’ PDP in Oyo State. His leadership was based on his pedigree as a former PDP governor, senator and a chieftain with the highest number of followers in the party.

    But, the unfolding events show that the bloc led by Makinde has become a threat to Ladoja’s plan to be the party’s arrowhead. Following the breakdown of talks on the sharing of positions in the State Executive Committee, the two blocs held separate congresses in Ibadan, the state capital, on November 4, last year. Ladoja’s supporters held their congress at the Watershed Events Centre, Old Ife Road. Makinde’s held its  congress at Baptist Secondary School, Oke- Ado, Ibadan.

    In Makinde’s group  are Senator Hosea Agboola, former leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi and Bose Adedibu. With Ladoja are Senators Ayo Adeseun and Olufemi Lanlehin, former Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Jumoke Akinjide, Senator Gbenga Babalola and Hon. Muraina Ajibola.

    The Makinde camp elected astute politician Chief Jacob Adetoro as State Chairman. Chief Kunmi Mustapha was elected Chairman by the Ladoja bloc. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials attended the factional congress held by Ladoja’s supporters. INEC shunned the congress held at Oke-Ado.The Public Relations Officer of the commission, Mr Ayodele Folami, said INEC did the right thing by attending the congress organised by the Ladoja faction, having monitored its activities from ward congresses.

    A former deputy governor, Gbolarunmi, who belongs to the Makinde faction,  said the crisis was borne out of Ladoja’s plot to produce all members of the State Executive Committee. It was learnt that only one slot was given to the Makinde faction by Ladoja in its original plan, which prompted the former to hold a parallel congress.

    To avert the danger of plunging the party into another intractable crisis, the national leadership released a harmonised list last month to placate the Makinde faction while retaining Ladoja as the leader, whose camp retains the highest number of key positions. But, the decision threw the former governor and his supporters off balance. They threatened to leave the party again. Ladoja viewed the sharing formula as another assault on internal democracy, saying that future decisions may be unilaterally taken against his interest.

    But, Makinde was happy, saying that it was a good bargain. It got 12 out of the 26 slots. Having got a good deal, all is well. But, to the Ladoja, the future is uncertain. The Makinde faction is particularly pleased that Ladoja will not contest as governor in next year’s   election as he has publicly promised.

    The harmonisation of the State Executive Committee has raised a dust that may not settle in time. It has aggravated the suspicion that the PDP, unlike the Accord Party, may not be another cosy home to the former governor and his supporters. Ladoja left the PDP in 2011 when it became obvious that he was no longer in charge, although he was still the governor. As the Accord Party leader, he called the shots. In fact, PDP leaders appealed to him to return becaue of his political strength. But, as things stand now in the party, Makinde and other chieftains have succeeded in slicing Ladoja’s powers. The balance of power will determine who picks the governorship ticket and other positions in the next year’s election. Although the former governor is yet to announce his next move, it is clear that he is reviewing the situation along with his supporters. Ladoja is planning to regain his full strength, ahead of the polls.

    Makinde, on the other hand, is basking in the euphoria of comparative advantage. His camp is likely to get majority of the slots. But, the faction cannot survive without Ladoja’s. If the camps can manage their differences, the party is likely to go far in the next elections. But, it appears that mutual suspicion and distrust will make them to work at cross purpose.  Already, Ladoja’s faction has called passed a vote of no confidence on the Southwest zonal chairman, Dr Eddy Olafeso. It accused him of colluding with others to frustrate Ladoja.

    Mustapha, the party chairman, said the decision became necessary because Olafeso, who could have intervened by finding out what was happening in the party, took the matter to the National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja.

    He disclosed that the proposal to share the 26 state offices lacked the approval of the NWC and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, adding that it was a secret agenda between Olafeso and others, which prompted the national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, to warn against tampering with Oyo PDP executive as currently constituted.

    The chairman admitted that the ambition of some peoppe to get the tickets for elections led to the crisis. He advised them to elevate the interest of the people of the state who desired a change above their personal interests.

    Mustapha said: “The day we shared the offices, we did not do so on the basis of factions, but among the five political parties that came together to form the new PDP, namely the old PDP, Accord, SDP, Labour Party and AD.

    “While the PDP got 13 offices, the Accord Party got only six, the SDP, three, the Labour Party, three, and the AD, one. Seyi Makinde can’t say he has not got any slot. He has three of the SWC members given to the SDP.

    “But, Secondus told us he would not be a party to anything that is illegal. We received a call from Abuja that I should see that I bring five people each from Ladoja’s faction and five from Seyi Makinde’s faction. To me personally, I see that as an insult.

    “We did the ward and local government congresses successfully and there was no faction and there was no rancour. We did not have any problem because the arrowheads of the five parties were appointed coordinators to handle the congresses in the wards and councils.

    “We formed a committee of 33 people. But Eddy Olafeso unilaterally increased the number to 47, until he was vetoed by the Senator Ahmed Markafi-led National Caretaker Committee (NWC).

    “Makinde himself conducted the congresses in Ibadan North East Local Government Area. Honourable Mulikat Akande-Adeola did the congresses in Ogbomosho North and South councils. Senator Hosea Agboola conducted those of Itesiwaju Local Government Area, while Chief Sharafadeen Alli handled Ibadan North Local Government Area.

    “People are yearning for a change in Oyo State and we feel our coming together will bring about the change. If all of us can’t come together, if Ladoja joins us we will win the election. But these people don’t want Ladoja from the onset and they are still on it.

    “All that is happening now is just to frustrate Ladoja out of the PDP. But they will not succeed by the grace of God.

    “We have told the national headquarters to leave us alone. We will deliver the state. I am exonerating the national chairman, Secondus. But it is the legacy of Markafi that others are trying to destroy.

    “We worked hard to bring Ladoja to PDP unsuccessfully. But, it was during Markafi that this was achieved. We know Ladoja has the masses on Oyo State behind him and politics is a game of number. They don’t want Ladoja, but we want him to be the rallying point for Oyo PDP.”

    The list ceded 14 slots to Ladoja’s faction while 12 went to Makinde’s faction. The positions of State Chairman, Women Leader, Publicity Secretary, Legal Adviser, First and Second Vice Chairmen went to Ladoja while the position of State Secretary and other positions went to Makinde.

    Makinde said he  has a lot of respect for Ladoja, pointing out that,  if he had his way, he would avoid any disharmony over the harmonisation.

    A chieftain, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said called for unity, saying that crisis will tear the party apart. He added:  “As pragmatists, what party leaders must do is to dig deep into the recess of unity and look at the bigger picture. Will our people forgive us if we commit another horror mistake and allow the APC to continue its punishment of our people through misgovernance and misplaced priorities that have left the most susceptible masses at the hand of poverty?

    “We cannot clap with one hand and we must focus on the larger objective instead of allowing ourselves to be weakened by internal crisis.

    “As a major stakeholder, I have volunteered myself to ensure that I do all in my power to achieve what we failed to achieve in 2015 and I am convinced that it is God’s own project.”

     

  • PDP urges Buhari on IDP funds

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to recover over N28 billion meant for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the northeast.

    The party alleged that the said funds were stolen.

    In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition party said the Presidency and the APC are not being sincere with the IDPs by providing cover for those who have been frittering away billions of naira donated for the well-being of victims of insurgency.

     

     

  • 2019: Cracks in opposition as parties ask PDP to change name

    • Say Nigerians associate party with corruption
    • No way – PDP scribe
    • Party to raise committee for coalition modalities
    • Atiku, Lamido top search chart
    • PDP elders move to checkmate Wike, Fayose

    The Peoples Democra-tic Party (PDP) is under massive pressure to change its name as alliance talks intensify between it and some other parties, the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) and key political figures ahead of the 2019 elections.

    The alliance is aimed at denying President Muhammadu Buhari a second term in office.

    The participating groups say a change of name by the PDP is desirable to give everyone a sense of belonging.

    But with 13 states under its control, the former ruling party does not want merger, preferring only collaboration that will unite all opposition parties, groups and political leaders.

    Nonetheless, the PDP plans to  raise a committee soon to work out modalities for coalition with other parties and interest groups like ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s CNM.

    Some elders and governors elected on the platform of the party have also initiated moves to curb the influence of Governors Nyesom Wike and Ayo Fayose on the party such that the other groups will not be scared away from working with the PDP.

    Highly placed party sources said last night that ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Governor Sule Lamido, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo are leading the search chart of PDP.

    The party is not relenting in wooing Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Senate President Bukola Saraki back to its fold.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) is not less busy.

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s strategists  and some APC leaders are understood to  be working on  the possibility of reaching what a source called an  “accord concordiale” with some PDP governors and respected leaders of the party during the 2019 polls.

    One of the leaders that Buhari’s strategists are mounting pressure on is ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau whose return to APC is believed can whittle down the influence of Kwankwanso in Kano.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that PDP leaders are anchoring their plan to oust the APC from power on propaganda and forging a grand coalition against the ruling party.

    The coalition part of the plan has seen the party reach out to other opposition parties, the CNM and some key political figures in the six geopolitical zones who are against Buhari’s re-election.

    However, it was gathered that the PDP is finding it difficult to rally international support against Buhari, whose integrity is still being trusted by world leaders.

    The party  is counting solely on ex-President Obasanjo  to do the ‘damage’ but the one-man international campaign against the President  does not seem to be having the expected result yet.

    Findings revealed that a recurring issue in the ongoing secret talks, covert negotiation and lobbying by PDP, is the demand by affected parties, groups and leaders that it should change its name.

    Giving an insight into the development so far, one of the sources said:”These opposition parties, some leaders of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) and  some key political figures in all the six geopolitical zones are asking PDP to change its name in order to enable more Nigerians identify with it.

    “Those interested in the coalition with PDP said the party’s name has been battered because of alleged massive corruption when it was in power for 16 years. They said the electorate might not want to associate with it.

    “A few other parties do not want to lose their identities. They want a sort of merger like the case with APC.

    “In fact, Obasanjo’s CNM would have loved to identify with PDP but the hijack of the party by some governors at the last national convention foreclosed a wholesale adoption of the opposition party. The CNM would prefer a change of name by PDP for effective coalition against APC.”

    The source said the PDP has made it clear to those interested in working with it that it will not change its name or symbol.

    The party believes that any change in its identity is an easy technical way of killing it for a new set of ownership.”

    A PDP leader said: “The National Working Committee sees the demand for either merger or a change of name as a booby trap to kill PDP by some forces.

    “The timeline does not favour a change of name or merger. It is like starting afresh.

    “Why should PDP which has about 13 governors lose its name? We believe our party is in a position of strength and should be allowed to enjoy the privilege in a coalition.

    “If we go for another name, won’t they say the same people in PDP are in the new party like the case now with the Social Democratic Party?

    “You don’t change a party’s name on the basis of losing election

    “We are also suspecting that some of those who left the party are plotting to return to PDP through the backdoor. This is why they are giving this condition of change of name.”

    The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan said yesterday that the challenge before the party is “not about the name, it is a perception issue.”

    The party has no image challenge, he said when contacted.

    He added: “We would allow Nigerians to choose our candidate for 2019 presidential poll; we will not interfere with the process.

    “At the end of the day, we will ensure the emergence of a credible candidate who will accord priority to national unity and development and the reshaping of the nation’s economy.”

    PDP to raise committee to work out modalities for coalition

    In spite of the tethering challenge, it was learnt that the PDP will soon raise a committee to “work out modalities for coalition with parties and groups.”

    A member of the Board of Trustees of PDP said: “We are interested in coalition; we will soon inaugurate a committee on how to go about it, what we should offer and what we should reject.

    “So far, it is clear that unless we team up with Nigerians and groups of like minds, it will be difficult for PDP to defeat APC alone.”

    The source also confirmed that the party might still need to “do more work internally” by checkmating some of its leaders like Governors Nyesom Wike and Ayo Fayose.

    “We are aware that we have internal challenge especially the overbearing influence of some leaders like Governors Nyesom Wike and Ayo Fayose. They operate as if they own PDP,” he said.

    “Some elements in CNM and a few incoming coalition partners have also told us to return PDP to its democratic structure instead of allowing Wike and Fayose to be behaving as if they have the party in their pockets.

    “At a point, we will all mobilize support for the party leadership to assert itself. We know some PDP governors are equally uncomfortable with Wike and Fayose’s attitude. You will see what will happen soon. We want to win in 2019, we won’t bow to the whims and caprices of some party leaders.

    “By the time we enter into negotiation stage with groups and individuals, the overriding interest of the party will take the centre stage.”

    What party has in stock for Saraki, Tambuwal

    The source said the PDP is “ready to bend backwards for the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki if he is ready to defect to APC.”

    Saraki, according to him, has been “advised to forego his presidential ambition” and PDP “won’t mind returning him as the President of the Senate because the performance of the 8th Senate, which he is heading, has been outstanding in terms of bills already passed.

    “You can see why PDP is giving him a major backing. But we have not got any commitment from him.”

    Saraki has however not shown any sign of defection from PDP to APC in spite of the fact that the main opposition party is his major pillar of survival in the Senate.

    The source ruled out the possibility of the party giving its presidential ticket to Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State who is being actively wooed by some PDP governors.

    The source said the best the PDP can offer Tambuwal is re-election ticket as governor.

    “Except for a few governors who wanted us to woo Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from APC based on his democratic credentials, most of our leaders and governors are not keen on him because of his likely imposition by some PDP leaders,” he said.

    “We are open to Tambuwal but let him go and seek re-election as governor on the platform of PDP if he is fed up with APC.

    “Tambuwal is a presidential material for the future even though Wike will not want to hear this from our governors and leaders.”

    Search for credible presidential flag bearer intensified

    Party leaders and governors are gauging the mood of political leaders across the six geopolitical zones on a credible PDP presidential candidate.

    A member of the National Caucus of party named ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Governor Sule Lamido, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo as those currently topping the search chart.

    But he said Atiku has an edge on account of his “solid and enduring structure,” and a major obstacle: Ex-President Obasanjo.

    His words: “His only problem is ex-President Obasanjo who might fight him to a standstill. The alternative is for Atiku to eat his vomit and beg the ex-President.

    “We underrated Lamido until our leaders went for a rally in Jigawa during the week.

    “The rally was an eye opener that this 2019 poll is going to be tough. The performance of Dankwambo has been appreciable too. He has age and vision on his side as well.

    APC working on its own strategy

    Strategists of President Buhari and the APC are not sleeping either.

    An APC source said: “One of the windows being explored is the ongoing reconciliation being coordinated by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. We know that the President and the party would have to shift grounds to reunify some APC leaders.

    “The outcome of the reconciliation will determine many things.

    “We have also identified fluid states and tough election battlefields and how to make amends. Along the line, some PDP governors and leaders have faith in President Buhari’s aspiration for a second term and we are trying to consolidate on this.

    “It will be akin to what the famous politician, the late Chief K.O. Mbadiwe described as ‘accord concordiale.’

    “Even within the APC, some strategists have identified those who may glorify PDP by defecting to the opposition. In such states, we are working on Plan B in the light of the vote margins between PDP and APC in the affected states during the 2015 general elections.

    “One of the PDP top shots, which the APC has extended its olive branch to, is ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau (of Kano) who had always been an ally of the President until the two leaders had a political disagreement (not personal problem).

    “The strategists of the President are prevailing on Shekarau to forgive and forget. He is yet to respond to overtures from these strategists. If he does, Kano will become winnable without Kwankwanso.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “We know that the headache of PDP is getting a credible candidate like President Buhari. We are awaiting their choice or any party’s choice in order to define the battle.”

     

  • Don’t dump PDP, Seyi Makinde tells Ladoja

    AS a former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja shops for a new party to join, a co-chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr Seyi Makinde, has urged him to reconsider his decision to dump the party again.

    Makinde, who spoke yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, through his Seyi Makinde Organisation, reminded the former governor of his leadership role and the collective desire of = Oyo State residents for a change through 2019 elections.

    The statement by Prince Dotun Oyelade said his advice was that of a son to his father to stay back and continue with the party they both built together.

    Ladoja is threatening to leave the PDP because of the harmonised list of the State Executive newly released by the national leadership of the party.

    In the list, 14 positions were given to the Makinde bloc while Ladoja’s bloc retained the remaining 16.

    The former governor and his supporters are not happy that their hold on the party was halved by the national leadership to promote a sense of belonging.

    Ladoja and his supporters have set up a committee to shop for a new party.

    Accord Party, where they left for the PDP in 2010, is not an option, it was learnt.

    Makinde said: “I am privileged to be referred to as one of your political sons and which you yourself confirmed on a radio programme two days ago. Therefore, as a true son of a valiant father, I hereby humbly but strongly appeal to you not to contemplate leaving the house we are jointly trying to roof, just before the raining season.”

    Makinde added that such a decision, coming from a tested leader, would confuse the people as majority of party members and the masses in Oyo State were excited about the prospect of a genuine regime change that will fulfil its electoral promises and respect institutions and elders.

    He said: “The issue of harmonisation of party executive, which is being blown out of proportion, appears to be the most realistic arrangement to actualise our objective because political expediency narratives are determined by circumstances on the ground. In our own party, the PDP at the national level learnt a bitter lesson from 2015 debacle, where only one tendency was saddled with the control of the party; hence, it became imperative for the National Working Committee (NWC) to ensure that an all-inclusive State Executive is put in place to avoid going to war with a divided army.

    “Like others who desire positive change via PDP under your leadership in the state, I strongly believe no single tendency can do it all alone.

    “What does it profit you, sir, to abandon your children and allow, by default, the perpetration of anti-youth employment policy, as graphicised in the current 2018 budget, to continue? God forbid!

    “You and I will not allow it, and the millions of youths who are pining away in abject lack, in spite of going to school and who were deceived to being foot soldiers in 2015, will obviously resist it legitimately. And this is why, sir, the prospect of leaving the party is not an option.”

     

  • PDP slams Buhari for rejecting election sequence bill

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday carpeted President Muhammadu Buhari for rejecting the election sequence bill passed by the National Assembly and sent for his assent.

    The President’s rejection of the bill was conveyed in an official communication to the two chambers of the National Assembly and read at plenary.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said it was not surprised by the President’s action given the tendencies he has continued to display as a politician.

    The party said: “The PDP believes in democracy and subscribes to all its tenets including the respect for the powers of the National Assembly to make laws and to amend such laws as occasion demands.

    “In the light of this development, the PDP, and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians, now eagerly await the final decision of the National Assembly on this amendment.

    “As a party, we are not afraid of the 2019 general elections because we know that Nigerians have already rejected President Buhari and his dysfunctional All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “Against this backdrop, the PDP assures to provide all the members of our great party a level playing ground to choose a presidential candidate in a national convention that promises to be open, free, fair, credible and transparent.

    “We know that with the support of Nigerians, any candidate that emerges on our platform ahead of 2019 will clinically defeat President Buhari at the polls and lead our nation back to the path of progress, national cohesion and a vibrant economy.”

  • Our problem with PDP, by ex-minister Adeniran

    Former Minister of Education Prof. Tunde Adeniran has said lack of internal democracy triggered the  exit of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Adeniran said the party offers hope for Nigerians who are disenchanted with the way and manner PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had managed the affairs of the country.

    He described the SDP as “the third force and evolving coalition of progressive forces to bring about positive change in Nigeria.  The former minister said the party would  restructure  the country.

    Adeniran spoke  yesterday in his Orin-Ekiti, Ido/Osi Local Government hometown during an interactive session with SDP members ahead of the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State.

    Adeniran, who is also former Ambassador to Germany, quit PDP with personalities like former Information Minister Prof. Jerry Gana and former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, over crisis that trailed the December 9 National Convention.

    The former Education Minister contested the national chairmanship seat, which  Prince Uche Secondus won.

    He said the party has embarked on aggressive membership mobilisation that would make Ekiti a launch pad  to gain national prominence.

    Adeniran said: “PDP lacks internal democracy and that has been the party’s greatest challenge and may end up being its undoing. We tried to correct them, we tried to put them on the path of sanity, but they refused.

    “We believed in change and transformation of the democratic system,   where human dignity and other virtues can be protected.

    “SDP is a third force and evolving coalition of progressive forces that has become a force to reckon with. Nigerians are yearning for change, because so much has gone wrong in this country.

    Nigerian youths have seen the party as an appropriate vehicle and they are embracing it.

    “What we intend to do is to give effect to what we believed in, I mean  to sanitise the political system where the rule of law, justice and fairplay can be embraced to promote internal democracy.

    “Let me say this, no political party can bring the desired change when   the  internal democracy is tampered with , because you can’t build something on nothing”.

    Adeniran said SDP is coming to restructure the country and allow true federalism to take the centre stage to end the reign of nepotism  body polity.

    “We are going to restructure this country because it was built on adefective and lopsided foundation. Our own restructuring in SDP will bring healthy rivalry among states and break the yoke of unitary  system.

    “In an attempt to restructure, we won’t promise what we can’t do. We have seen our people going hungry in the midst of abundance, but we     will revamp the agricultural sector through commercial farming to make     Nigeria the food basket of the nation.

    “We are going to make education free and compulsory up to the secondary level while the health sector will be made affordable for all  citizens”, he added.

    Expressing confidence that the PDP and the All Progressives Congress(APC) will be hit with gale of defections, Adeniran said many of the gladiators in the two political parties are already fraternising with the party.

    “What we intend to do is to make Ekiti a litmus test to what is going to happen in the larger Nigeria in 2019.

    “After winning Ekiti, we are going to win in Osun, banking on the supports of the youths who are seriously in need of paradigm shift to     make the country a great nation that we all desired”, he said.