A new found unity exists in the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this report, UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHAB examines the unfolding development in the party as a new caretaker committee assumed duty in the state
Th ere was breath of fresh air in the state secretariat of the Kwara State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party PPD situated along Asa Dam Road, Ilorin on Wednesday. Coming together of factions For the fi rst time after the long leadership crisis that had engulfed the party, the two factional leaders of the party, Price Sunday Fagbemi and Akogun Iyioola Oyedepo and their supporters sat together on a round table to chat a common front for the opposition party in the state.
Th e development followed the dissolution of the state executives by the national leadership, of the party after the Supreme Court judgement that affi rmed the Senator Ahmed Makarfi ’s caretaker committee. Consequently, a caretaker committee was constituted for the state as others with similar leadership crisis to bring the factions together and unit the party again. Prior to the dissolution of the executive of the party in Kwara, both Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo and Sunday Fagbemi battled for the control of the leadership of the party with their two groups. New caretaker committee On resumption of duty at the state last Tuesday, the new caretaker committee under the chairmanship of Chief Tunde Akindehin, swung into action by bringing both factions together where they resolved contentious issues and agreed to work for the common of the party. Akindehin said that the era of impunity and cleavages in its structures are gone.
He added: “We have formally resumed today September 5, 2017. Some other members of the committee led by the secretary resumed yesterday. “PDP is a changed party. We have come with a big bang with a lot of activities, innovations, reengineering and impunity of the past is gone for good. So Nigerians should have confi dence in ability to now bring a robust, civilized political activity to the state. “We will also appeal to the press not to at any time hesitate to either get to any principal offi cer of the party at the state level or myself to clarify anything that is not clear on the activities of the party. ‘’We can assure you we have come here to bridge all the misgivings of the past to ensure that peace, unity is returned permanently to the party.
“No more cleavages, the cleavages of the past would be a thing of the past. We will ensure that everybody is carried along in the decision making of the party and that recruitment of members is transparent. “We don’t know how the Nigerian ship is being wrecked. And for those who are conscious of the future of our children we must wake up from our slumber to enthrone good governance and democracy. PDP will not be short of that, we promise you. By the time we address to you tomorrow, we will roll out our plans for the party in the state.
” Euphoria of new found unity Basking in the euphoria of its new found unity, the new chairman of the caretaker committee in the state , chief Tunde Akindehin said the party is battled ready for the November 18 local government election in the state. Akindehin who addressed newsmen shortly after a stakeholders meeting at the party’s secretariat in Ilorin, said PDP has all it takes to emerge victorious in the council poll.
He said his committee had been able to settle all the contentious issues among party leaders in the state, adding that “all our leaders are now united”. Akindehin cautioned the state Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) against deviating from the provisions of the nation’s electoral law in conducting the council poll. He warned that any act of arbitrariness in the process and conduct of the election will be rejected and challenged in the court of law.
He added: “All the leaders of our party are now united. We have all it takes to contest and win the forthcoming council poll in the state. “Nigerians are depressed, so PDP is prepared to bail them out. We are ready to listen to Nigerians, do their biddings and remove their pains. We had a very good meeting; Our leaders are now united. “ Akindehun said the councillorship aspirants in the fold of the PDP will obtain their forms with N35,000 while the chairmanship aspirants will obtain their own forms with N100,000.
Party big wigs and new success Big wigs within the party who attended the reconciliation meeting included pioneer chairman of the party in the state, Barrister Kunle Sulyman, the two former factional leaders Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo and Prince Sunday Fagbemi, the party’s 2015 fl ag bearer, Chief Simon Ajibola, former deputy governor in the state (2003-2007), Chief Joel Ogundeji, former Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Babatunde Mohammed, chairman, Federal Character Commission (FCC), Professor Oba Abdulraheem.
Others are Chief MakanJuola Ajadi, former Commissioner of Water Resources in the state, Dr Abudul ganiy Baki, among others. But how far can Kwara PDP go with it new found unity? Would the party stand the test of time as the November 18, local government elections and the 2019 general elections in the state draw closer. Th ese and many ,more questions are the concerns of many in the state, analysts argued that how the party is able to manage this new success will determine their chances in future election in the state.
