Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, wednesday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is ready to embrace reconciliation of warring factions in the Southwest zone, reiterating that the party will henceforth expel whoever takes the party to court over any issue.
He said the party is pursuing its policy of reconciling with various aggrieved groups and people in the party, but will never tolerate those who are dissidents and seeking the downfall of the party.
He spoke in Ado-Ekiti yesterday at the opening of reconciliation meetings involving some chapters of the party in the South-west geopolitical zone.
Fayose, who is the chairman of the reconciliation committee in the zone, said this while addressing delegates from Osun and Oyo States.
“This exercise is fallout of our recent non-elective national convention. The leaders have mandated us to bring on those who are ready to support our great party in the drive to chart a new way forward for the party. In doing this, we won’t give room for dissidents to frustrate us and our effort.
“Some people are claiming to be members of our party and at the same time going to court to frustrate the party. They tried unsuccessfully to stop the last convention using the court, but they failed woefully. There is no room for anybody who is one leg in and one leg out. It is either you are here or there. I am sure no judge would allow himself to be used as a spoiler by some filthy politicians.
“Sanctions will be imposed on errant members and those who are loyal party members and working for the progress of the party have nothing to fear.
“The success of our last convention brings the hope for a new Nigeria. The opposition must be organised for the sake of democracy in our country. For us to be organised, we need to shift ground where necessary. Whoever loses out today, may win tomorrow. I am not from Oyo and won’t be biased.
“In my situation, after leaving office, God still brought me here as the governor of my state. If President Goodluck Jonathan had won a second term, I may not be relevant like I am today. My appeal to you is that don’t allow anybody to use you for evil in our party,†he said.
Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel, lauded the reconciliation steps taken by the party, saying this will help the party to defeat the APC in 2019.
The Zonal Publicity Secretary, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, said he had no doubt that the committee would do a good job, and said it was a sign of good thing that people who had not spoken together sat and discussed under the same roof.
Jenyo said leaders in Osun State were told to work together like they did in the last senatorial election where the party defeated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Meanwhile, former Deputy Governor of the state , Chief Abiodun Aluko, has dumped the PDP, accusing Fayose of turning the party to his personal estate and harassing prominent leaders.
The ex-deputy governor, who was a PDP governorship aspirant, claimed that Fayose has been intimidating other aspirants like Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Abiodun Olujimi and the party’s national Spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye to drop their ambition for the 2018 gubernatorial poll.
Aluko, in a letter withdrawing his membership of the PDP said Fayose’s alleged vindictive and hostile attitude as well as “illegal and unconstitutional age barrier†that anybody above the age of 60 cannot contest for any position including the governorship.
On his next political destination, Aluko said he would soon reveal the party he would join to realise his governorship ambition sas soon as he concludes consultations with his supporters.
Aluko served under Fayose as deputy governor during his first tenure but he (Aluko) was impeached from office in controversial circumstances in November 2005.
