BAYO AGBOOLA in Ibadan writes that the just concluded South West zonal congress which held in Oshogbo, Osun state, proves right the cliche of no permanent enemy in politics but permanent interest
The South West Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is no doubt a real test for Nigeria’s growing democracy going by the events before, during and after the tension-soaked Osogbo congress.
The zonal Congress specifically resulted in two major factions within the party, with Governor Seyi Makinde leading one faction and former governor Ayodele Fayose leading the other faction.
There were claims and counter claims from the two warring sides, especially, on alleged plans to manipulate the outcome of the planned zonal congress during which four of the six states chairmen of the party, few hours to the congress forwarded a strong petition to the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus on the said congress.
In their petition, to the PDP National Chairman, dated April 10, 2021, signed by the Ogun state chairman of the party, Dr Sikirulai Ogundele, on behalf of the PDP chairmen in Ekiti, Lagos, Osun states, Otunba Bisi Kolawole, Engr Adedeji Doherty and Hon Sunday Bisi, respectively, they alleged plans to manipulate the planned zonal Congress in Osogbo.
They also demanded that all ballot papers to be used for the congress should be signed by the National Chairman and that they must not exceed the number of delegates and that Observers/ Monitors should be deployed by the party to save the party from impending anarchy.
“I write on behalf of the Chairmen of Lagos, Osun, Ekiti and Ogun States to inform you of the clandestine plot to manipulate the South-West Congress scheduled for Monday, in Osogbo, Osun State. We have been reliably informed that over 150 (One hundred and Fifty) ballot papers for the election of National Vice Chairman and Zonal Secretary have been released to the group led by the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, to manipulate the Zonal Congress on Monday.
“This is coming after the failure of all the clandestine plots to manipulate the delegate lists.. These ballot papers were said to have been released through the office of the National Organising Secretary by one Prince Adeyemi”, adding, “the ballot papers are to be handed to some selected delegates from Oyo State in particular, to dump in the ballot boxes with the ballot papers to be given to them during voting.”
The Four Chairmen in the petition alleged further “plan to stuff the ballot boxes with illegally released ballot papers, to be supervised and achieved by a Senator who was nominated as Secretary of the Congress Committee by Governor Makinde’s group”.
The embattled Chairmen stressed also, “We are not unaware of possible hijack of the congress materials on Monday, especially the result sheets.”
“We therefore call on the party to ensure a credible congress by compelling the office of the National Organising Secretary to make sure that the number of ballot papers released and the serial numbers are made public. All ballot papers to be used for the congress must be signed by your good-self and they must not exceed the number of delegates.
“All congress materials, especially the ballot papers and result sheets must be inspected and agreeable to all aspirants before voting.
“Any attempt to hijack or divert the congress materials will be resisted”, the petitioners noted.
As expected especially in the Nigeria politics context, the congress organising committee quickly rebuffed the allegations by the four states chairmen, asking PDP members in and across the South West and beyond “to discountenance this unnecessary, irresponsible, reckless and false publication” .
The PDP also in a statement by its National Organising Secretary, Col Austin Akobundu (rtd) stated, “We wish to implore every member of our party, the delegates and stakeholders across the country to discountenance this unnecessary, irresponsible, reckless and false publication. The NWC will continue to ensure free, fair, credible and transparent primaries in line with its oath of office.
While reacting, the South West zonal congress organising committee also stated, “Our attention has been drawn to a spurious and baseless petition circulating in the social media purportedly signed by Mr. Sikirulai Ogundele, the Ogun state Chairman on behalf of Chairmen of Ogun, Lagos, Osun and Ekiti states.
“Ordinarily, there would have been no need to comment on the misleading letter since the allegations are false and malicious, but, in this age of social media, it is important to save the unsuspecting public from falling prey to the antics of the author, in the name of politics.”
However, on the election day, Monday, April, 12, it was different ball game entirely with the two factions completely changing tunes from the usual aluta style to solidarity and publicly pledging their loyalty as members of the same family ti the party and as well describing all the verbal wars between the two factions as a family affair which needed no attention of “outsiders”.
Governor Seyi Makinde while speaking at the venue of the congress said the South-West zonal congress “stand as an opportunity for the geo-political zone to put its best people forward and that the future will be brighter for the party if it gets things right at the congress”
According to him, “the South-West zonal congress has implications for the PDP at the national level as it will help put the best people in place, who would in turn help the party at the national level.
“The process so far is going well. Before I was allowed to come in, I had to show them my driver’s license. So, we know quite well that there won’t be ghost voters here today. Accreditation is starting almost two hours behind schedule. But I really feel like it is better late and thorough than for them to rush through it and we have challenges later.
“The message is very simple; this is a zonal congress but it has ramifications for our party at the national level. If we get it right in PDP South West, then, we know that the future will be bright for the party at the national level. This is not about just coming to elect our zonal officials, we are here to put forward our best and they will in turn assist us at the federal level.”
From the two candidates for the major post at the congress , SW Zonal Chairman, Dr Eddy Olafeso from the Ayodele Fayose camp and Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, from the Seyi Makinde camp, the congress is a family affair with the two major contestants publicly expressing their readiness and willingness to accept whatever be the outcome of the congress elections.
Also, the only PDP National Officer from the South West, the PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary , Prince Diran Odeyemi emphasised that what has been happening was nothing but politics and it will end immediately as soon as the winner of the congress is announced.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary like others said “all what has been playing out is politics within the same family and that it should not be of serious concern to outsiders as it will be resolved in a family manner.”
The final path to end of the SW PDP zonal congress crisis came when the former governor of Ekiti state, Mr. Ayodele Fayose was called to address the delegates and others at the tension soaked congress.
Fayose against expectations, publicly acknowledged Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state as the only governor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the region, as the father and leader of the party in the zone.
He said supporters should not be allowed to drive a wedge between the party leaders as he would readily accept the leadership of Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja if he wins the election.
“Thank you for the endurance and tolerance we have all gone through. The issue of this congress is a circumstantial one, which is still in the public domain. Who is the leader? Governor Seyi Makinde is our leader.Therefore, we should not allow, particularly those who are our supporters and lovers, continue to put a wedge in between us.
“Our leaders; Governors Oyinlola, Oni and former Deputy Senate Majority Whip and all serving senators, I want to assure you that we will make exploits together because this must not divide us. I stand here to tell you today that either way it goes, I will accept it. Therefore, if Arapaja becomes chairman, I will be the first to visit him in Ibadan because there is nothing that will last forever. Nobody has offended me and if I have offended anybody, I sincerely apologise.
“Don’t let them give us the name we do not bear in Yorubaland. I want to say again that Governor Seyi Makinde has made impact in Oyo state and he won’t fail. Seyi Makinde and I are one. No matter what, he is our father and may God continue to do wonders through him.”
Governor Seyi Makinde on his part assured that “whatever the outcome of congress is, would be accepted in the spirit of a family contest”, as the Congress “is an attempt to reposition the South-West PDP, though it has ramifications for the party nationally.”
“This is an attempt to reposition our party in the South-West. But it has ramifications for our party nationally. So, whatever the outcome is, we will take it in the spirit of a family contest. We don’t want to defeat ourselves but we want to defeat the APC. So, at the end of this exercise, I promise you that there will be no victor and no vanquish. As your only Governor in this zone, whoever emerges belongs to me and I will work with the team to reposition our party in the South-West. So, let me thank you ahead for a peaceful and orderly conduct,”
At the end of it all, it was the Governor Seyi Makinde faction that produced the SW PDP Zonal Chairman in the person of former Deputy governor of Oyo state, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja who polled 343 votes to beat Dr Eddy Olafeso of the Fayose faction who polled 330 votes.
Other elected officers of the party are ; Secretary – Chief Rahaman Owokoniran
Treasurer- Mr Samson Omotoyosi
Org/Sec- Barr Amuwa Benson
Pub/Sec- Chief Olusanya Atofarati
Fin/Sec- Adewoyin Rasaq Babarinde
Legal-Barr. Gbenga Kukoyi
Auditor- Adeola Adewumi, Women/Leader – Modinat Bosede Adedibu, Youth/L- Bamidele Seyi AbiolaZonal Ex/Of- Adeola SantosZonal Ex/Of- Modupe Adetokunbo, Zonal Ex/Of- Araoye Sikiru, Zonal Ex/ Of- Olugbenga Idowu, Zonal Ex/Of- Segun Adewale Aeroland, Zonal Ex/Of- Lanre Fajuyi, Natl Ex/Of- Olakunle Pau, lNatl Ex/Of-David Kolawole, Natl Ex-Of- Ogunrinde Emmanuel, Natl Ex- Faboyede Clement, Natl Ex- Taiwo Kabiru, Natl Ex- Oluwakemi Olayiwola.
With the scenarios and politicking witnessed before, during and after South West PDP zonal congress, it is glaring that there is indeed no permanent enemy in politics but what is mostly at play is the game of interest which is paramount to an individual or group which after the realisation of the said interest becomes nothing of importance.
