Oyo PDP kicks as stakeholders pass vote of no confidence on Makinde

Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oyo State chapter met on Monday and passed a vote of no confidence on Governor Seyi Makinde.

The PDP members, in their hundreds, expressed displeasure at being neglected, sidelined despite working for the emergence of Makinde as governor.

The stakeholders also sued for peace in the forthcoming congress in the state on Saturday.

Rising from a meeting held at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the aggrieved PDP members, which included former majority leader in the House of Representatives, Honourable Mulikat Adeola-Akande; former deputy governor of Oyo, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi; Alhaji Rasheed Olopoeniyan, asked party members to mobilise en masse for the Saturday congress.

The meeting which was convened ahead of the Saturday congress of the PDP was attended by members of the party across the 33 local government areas in the state.

Other chieftains of the party at the meeting include Alhaji Nureni Akanbi, Engineer Femi Babalola, Elder Mattew Abioye, Princess Aderonke Adedoja, Asiwaju Adekola Adeoye, Alhaji Sarafa Olaoniye, Alhaji Ahmed Aranse, Alhaji Ajinawo, Baba Elisa, Chief Odeyemi, Alhaji Somope, Alhaji Bola Akinyemi, Hon Micheal Okunlade, Alhaji Riggogo and Alhaji Adele.

Akande-Adeola tasked party members to mobilise themselves for the Saturday congress of the PDP, adding that “go to your wards, mobilise your people. Don’t fight anybody. Record whatever happens and leave us to do the remaining in Abuja.”

In a communique issued at the end of stakeholders meeting, they concluded that “members are urged participate in the congress and conduct themselves in a peaceful manner throughout the exercise. The venue remains the ward meeting venues in each of the 351 wards in the state.”

Parts of the communiqué read by Okunlade read, “Members are urged to go to the congress venue on Saturday and conduct themselves in the most peaceful manner. The venue remains the wards’ meeting venues in each of the 351 wards in the state.

“If other members of the PDP turn up at the venue, they should jointly hold the congress together but nobody should engage in any form of hooliganism and brigandage. As members of the same party, we must relate as such.

“Members are assured that efforts are being made at the state and national levels to ensure that the ownership of PDP reverts to members of the party.

“The meeting prays for a peaceful conduct of the PDP congress which is scheduled to hold on Saturday, September 25 through October 16, 2021.

“The meeting rose with the passing of a vote of no confidence in the leadership of Engr Seyi Makinde of the Oyo State PDP.”

Meanwhile, the Publicity Secretary of Oyo PDP, Akeem Olatunji, regarded the views expressed at the Jogor meeting as those of the minority trying to hold the majority to ransom, which he described as an effort in futility.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune after the meeting, Olatunji held that no critical stakeholder of the PDP was present at the Jogor meeting, adding that the attendees converged because of the fear of contesting in the forthcoming congress of the party.

He said the attendees at the meeting represented themselves for pecuniary gains cum ulterior motive, arguing that no authentic member of the PDP will cast aspersion on the Makinde leadership of the party.

Olatunji said: “None of them is representing PDP or PDP members. They are just a few members. In Oyo PDP, we have over 200 groups so if a group comes together like that, it shows they have ulterior motives, probably working for the opposition.

“There were no critical stakeholders of our party at the meeting. No state or lawmaker of the National Assembly was there; none of our party or ward chairmen was there so they are only representing themselves because of pecuniary gains. They already have a motive.

“We are not bothered because the governor has done his best possible to make everybody happy. It is not possible to score 100 percent so that is a minute number doing that.

“Governor Seyi Makinde and the PDP in Oyo State are waxing stronger. The reason they converged today is that they are afraid of going of the congress. They know they do not have the number. Some of them cannot boast of 30 people in a whole local government. That is just an effort in futility which they have already failed in.

“We are not having parallel congress and there is nothing like failed leadership. When going for congress, you can have various aspirants for a position.

“We expect people to come to the designated venue and whoever has the majority of delegates carries the day. Some people are running away from contests.

“Since the party and government have assured everybody of free and fair congress, why are they afraid? They should come to the polls if they are truly authentic members of the party.

“No authentic member of the PDP will cast aspersions on the leadership of Makinde and the government. We have a conflict resolution mechanism.

“In a situation where a few are trying to hold the majority into ransom, it is not going to happen. The beauty of democracy is that the majority will have their way while the minority will have their say. Whatever you are hearing is noise from the minority.”