From FRED ITUA, Abuja
Poised to gain lost grounds ceded to opposition parties during the 2011 general elections, President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the South-West geo-political zone on Wednesday night in Abuja vowed to recapture the region which many political observers believe will play a deciding role in 2015.
The meeting which was held at the private residence Chief Bode George in Maitama, also had in attendance the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, the National chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’Azu and other critical stakeholders of the party from the South-West. The leaders vowed that no stone will be left unturned on plans by the party to regain the South-West in 2015. To this effect, President Jonathan and the South-West leaders took concrete decisions on how to fully regain the South-West, starting with the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States scheduled for this year.
Jonathan’s meeting with the leaders was prompted by a special dinner organised by the South-West leaders for the newly appointed Chief of Staff to the President, Brigadier-General Jones Oladehinde Arogbofa (retd).
The Special Dinner also had in attendance Minister designate, Chief Musiliu Obanikoro.
the newly appointed Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Sola Omole and others.
President Jonathan who was represented by his Deputy, Architect Namadi Sambo said with the nature of the prompt responses by the leaders, there are indications that the PDP in the South-West was more prepared to take over the region by 2015.
Sambo, clad in snow white agbada with a brown Yoruba cap, said the appointment of General Arogbofa and others from the south-west into the federal cabinet was a fulfilment of the promises earlier made by President Jonathan, just as he indicated that the President would still do more for the zone.
Sambo lamented the loss of the South-West by PDP to the opposition party as he attributed the short-coming to absence of unity among the PDP leaders in the zone.
He charged the south-west leaders not to allow the All Peoples Congress (APC) a space in the coming elections in Ekiti, Osun and the next general election.
Sambo likened the APC acronym to some drugs which, according to him, had been banned in Nigeria, suggesting to the PDP South-West leaders to continue to treat the APC as a party that had literally been banned.
Earlier, the PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih noted that with the caliber of Yoruba political actors and the desires they were radiating for PDP at the meeting, he was rest assured that party would soon regain the south-west.
Like the vice President, Anenih blamed the loss of South-West by PDP on internal wrangling among the leaders, while he charged the PDP leaders in the region to close ranks for the benefit of the party in future elections.
Anenih added that for PDP to regain the lost grounds in the South-West, every serving Minister from the zone would henceforth take over the leadership role by ensuring proper coordination and funding of the party in their zone.
The PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Mu’azu who was accompanied to the meeting by Senator Hope Uzodinma, the Party’s National Secretary Professor, Wale Oladipo and Auditor, Alhaji Adeyanju Adewole, said his personal love for the Yoruba and their ways of life would always prompt him to ensure the return of the South-West zone to the centre by 2015.
Mu’azu canvassed for unity, peace and understanding among the PDP south-west leaders and members, just as he urge the leaders not to leave former President Olusegun Obasanjo behind in their consultations and considerations.
The convener of the meeting and the dinner, Chief Bode George had expressed appreciation to the gesture by President Jonathan in bringing more South-West representatives into the cabinet. According to him, the President did so in response to recommendations to that effect by some Yoruba leaders who had been meeting him.
He said the PDP in the South-West was now better prepared and inspired to wrest power from the APC, vowing that members would do all in their capacity to ensure that the party takes over all the states of the South-West by 2015.
Also present at the meeting were Chief Ebenizer Babatope, Prof Tunde Adeniran, Musiliu Obanikoro, Dr Adesina Akinwumi, Chief Remi Adiukwu, Hon Mulikat Adeola Akande, Chief Martins Kuye, Ayo Fayose, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Barrister Olusola Oke, Kashamu Buruji, Elder Wole Oyelese, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Chief Erelu Obada, Engr Segun Oni, Dr Kayode Obambe, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, Eddy Olafeso, Chief and Dosu Ladipo.
Others include Chief Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, Engr Ezekiel Jide Adeniyi, Hon Ajibola Muraina, Hon Wole Oke, Apostle Dave Salako, Hon Kayode Amusan, Dr Bode Olajumoke, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, Dr Frederick Fasheun, Chief Yomi Akintola, Chief Hazeem Gbolarumi, Hon Elegbeleye, Segun Adeleke, Prince Olufemi Aduwo, Eddy Olafeso, Chief Ishola Filani, Alhaji Tajudeen, among others.
The post 2015: Jonathan, Mu’azu, S/West PDP leaders in crucial meeting appeared first on The Sun News.
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