PDP Will Unite Nigeria-Makinde •As Parallel Congresses Produced 2 Chairmen In Oyo
Oyo State governor and Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, declared that, with the way his party was able to organise itself and unite for the state congress, it has the capacity to unite Nigeria.
This was as the state chapter of the party produced two party chairmen following parallel congresses held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba and Jogor Centre, Oke Ado, both in Ibadan, on Saturday.
The Adamasingba congress where Dayo Ogungbenro was elected as state chairman and Wasiu Adeleke was returned as state secretary, among other positions.
At the parallel exercise, held at Jogor Centre, a former lawmaker in the state House of Assembly, Honourable Michael Okunlade and Abiodun Oyesola emerged as the chairman and secretary, respectively of the other faction of the party, led by a former federal lawmaker, Honourable Mulikat Adeola-Akande.
Governor Makinde, speaking at one of the two congress held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, said, if given the opportunity to govern the country in 2023, the PDP will end the divisive tendencies in the country and place it on the path of unity and oneness.
Interestingly, both Ogungbenro and Okunlade, in their separate acceptance speeches, promised to unify the party in the state ahead of the 2023 general election.
Governor Makinde, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, equally called on all members of the party to rally round the new state executives to better reposition the party.
Makinde said the party remains open to accommodating everyone aggrieved, adding: “Today is very symbolic. I congratulate the executives that we have just elected today.
“It is historical because this is the first time that we are coming for an elective congress and the situation is carnival-like. Now, I am sensing the same thing for our National Convention. They should watch out, PDP will unite Nigeria.
“Today, we don’t have much to say. The only thing I will say is that those who said they are aggrieved can see what has happened here today. PDP belongs to all of us. They must come back and get integrated into the fold and we will accommodate them.”
Earlier, chairman of the Oyo State PDP Congress Committee and governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, announcing the congress results held at Lekan Salami Sports Complex, declared Mr Dayo Ogungbenro as the new Oyo PDP chairman.
Ugwuanyi said Ogungbenro scored 3,110 votes out of 3,250 delegates’ votes at the congress from the 33 local government areas of the state, while Mr Wasiu Adeleke emerged as the state secretary of the party with 3,111 votes.
Governor Ugwuanyi commended Governor Makinde for his sterling leadership, which, according to him, has ensured the sustainability of the PDP in the state.
“I salute the sterling leadership of my brother and friend in Oyo State, Governor Makinde, who has engendered the manifestaton of parity in one fellowship and sustainability of PDP in the state.
“I respectfully acknowledge all the executive leaders of the party here. Your contributions and sacrifices are highly appreciated. I also appreciate the support and solidarity of our teeming supporters.
“My team and I are in Oyo State at the behest of the National Working Committee of our party to conduct the party Congress. And I am assuring you of a very transparent, free and fair process,” Ugwuanyi said.
While the Adamasingba congress was rancour-free, the exercise held at Jogor Centre was marred by violence, with about 50 vehicles parked around the venue vandalised by hoodlums.
The hoodlums, in their scores and armed with sticks and machetes, were, however, reportedly prevented by security agents from entering the venue of the congress.
It was gathered that the hoodlums had earlier attacked the venue of the parallel congress at about 2am, yesterday.
Two aggrieved PDP leaders in the state, Alhaji Nureni Akanbi and Alhaji Bisi Olopoeyan confirmed the attack, just as Akanbi said: “They (hoodlums) first came at around 2am and destroyed some vehicles parked at the venue. They came again as we were holding the congress and injured some people.”
Olopoeyan also claimed: “One of them was arrested and he has been handed over to operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).”
