PDP National Vice-Chairman, South-west, Mr. Olusegun Oni
By Tunde Sanni
The National Vice-Chairman, South-west of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olusegun Oni, has expressed confidence that the party would regain the region in 2015.
Oni noted that the party would be restructured to ensure that no individual hijacks its structure in each of the states in the region.
In his welcome address to delegates at the enlarged zonal caucus meeting of the party in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital at the weekend, Oni confirmed the unease across the zone over perceived control of the party at state levels.
He spoke shortly before the former chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party and former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, expressed misgivings at the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) for granting reprieve to members of the party who engaged in anti-party activities in the last elections.
The PDP vice-chairman stated that to achieve the objective of winning the remaining five states of the region at polls, the party would ensure a level playing field in all the states in the region to come together in unity.
Oni declared that the unease in the party over perceived control of party structure is dangerous for its quest to wrestle power from the incumbent governments in the region.
“The electorates expect us as a party to demonstrate our resolve and commitment to take over the South-west by first closing our ranks and creating enduring inclusiveness in all our states,” he said.
He hinted that the zonal leadership of the party in the next couple of weeks would take steps to ensure proper resolution of all concerns.
Oni assured the people that, “the party we are seeking to build in every state will not be in the pocket of any individual or group. Rather the PDP will be a platform for all and sundry to aspire and compete fairly.”
In the meantime, Obasanjo has cautioned members of the NWC against any undue favouritism on party chieftains who engaged in anti-party activities at the last poll and thus cost the party the loss of the region.
“I am not happy with the way our people in Abuja are granting audience to these people who made the party to lose in the last elections. They are going to Abuja because they knew they will get reprieve,” Obasanjo stated.