Friday, March 29, 2024

Who becomes new PDP chairman?

As the opposition Peoples Democratic Party shops for a new national chairman, activities of the party in the South-West have reached a fever pitch, since the party zoned the Number One position to the region.
While the PDP is looking northwards to emerge with a presidential candidate ahead of the 2019 election, the region to produce its chairman is also no longer in dispute. It all looks like a perfect arrangement, yet there is a snag: the contest for the position of chairman promises to be tough, as the two gladiators in the race from the South-West are heavyweights within the party, and in the country, and none is willing to step down for the other.
A former national deputy chairman of the party and one-time military governor of old Ondo State, Chief Olabode George, has thrown his hat in the ring, daring anyone to compete against him.
Same way, a former governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel, is determined to contest for the position and it does not look like he’s flying a kite. He means business.
Although a former PDP governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, is equally interested, it would seem that party elders had prevailed on him to allow George, a septuagenarian with intimidating profile, to run the race unhindered. At least, such indication came on the heels of Agbaje’s technical silence in the face of loud campaigns from other contestants.
George, in announcing his ambition at a well-attended press conference recently, said, “I have learned the ropes and I have been guided by the collective wisdom of our leaders across our great nation.

A former national deputy chairman of the PDP and one-time military administrator of old Ondo State, Chief Olabode George, has thrown his hat in the ring, daring anyone to compete against him. Same way, a former governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel, is determined to contest for the position and it does not look like he’s flying a kite

“I fully understand the precepts, the mechanisms and the constitution of our party. I know the tradition, the culture, the guiding ethos and the normative patterns that our leaders have built and nurtured for so many years. If elected, I am willing and ready to work with everyone, regardless of personal differences; to mend the broken places, to heal the ancient wounds, to reconcile the feuding factions and ultimately, ensure that we strengthen our collective brotherhood and speak with one voice to regain victory in 2019.”
He also said, “I will never compromise our foundational principles of justice, fairness and equity as enshrined in the constitution of our party. We will equally accord all our governors, and legislators at both state and national levels the necessary pride of place and honour in this new dawn. We will protect their interests and help to enhance their effectiveness.”
Perhaps, conscious of the criticism against him that he could be overbearing, a determined Bode George calmly said, “If I am given the privilege to serve, I will never play the role of an overlord. I will serve with dignity and diligence. I will respect the mighty and the low, without discrimination. Together, we will remove impunity. Together, we will restore discipline and fair play. We will always insist on internal democracy.”
Giving reasons for his interest in the chairmanship position of the party too, Daniel, a two-term governor and foundation member of the Afenifere group of the Ijebu-Igbo stub, said, “My ultimate goal is to work towards the victory of our party in the 2019 general election and in all other elections in-between. To achieve this, I am prepared to work with leaders of our party, various interest groups and individuals.
Daniel, while speaking on his proposed plans for the PDP, assured that the party would not change its name in any alliance with another party, and that it would reclaim its lost glory with the goal of salvaging the ship of the Nigerian state.
Promising to lead the party to a Promised Land, Daniel said, “Nigerians are once again ready to change the ‘change’ (a veiled reference to the ruling All Progressives Congress) and I am ready to be the destined captain to pilot the affairs of the party to that destination.”
Daniel further enthused, “Our party has lost many human political capital; it has lost many founding fathers by consistently being overwhelmed by the struggle for leadership positions; not only in most states of the federation, but even at the national level of the party. I am still proud to say that our party, the PDP, was and still remains the greatest political party, not only in Nigeria but in the entire continent of Africa. We are one big happy family, representing the greatest hopes and aspirations of most Nigerians.”
Already, both George and Daniel have undertaken the leg-work aspect of the campaign task, visiting leaders of the party in different states. These leaders, along with political office holders, voted on the platform of the party, are going to be delegates, to decide who becomes the new PDP national chairman.
For now, the game is hot.

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