Sodiq Yusuf
Leaders of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State have begun moves to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party.
Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the decision to begin a robust reconciliation is in the wake of the conclusion of the primaries of the party for the 2024 local government election in the state.
According to reports, the decision to make peace was part of the resolutions reached at a stakeholders meeting chaired by Governor Seyi Makinde over the weekend.
The meeting at the instance of the party Chairman and Secretary, it was gathered was to think of solutions to pacify those who did not clinch the party’s chairmanship tickets for the forthcoming council polls.
A source who attended the meeting noted that Governor Makinde insisted on full reconciliation as those who lost their re-election bids or selection as local government Chairmen are still members of the party.
He noted that the leadership was tasked to reach out to all tendencies of the party and see to how their grievances will be resolved.
“Mr. Governor met all the leaders over the weekend. The party chairman and secretary reported the processes leading to the primaries as well as issues generated. The names of the winners of the primaries in each local government was ratified and released to the public. Now that the list is out, the party must be united.
“Oga (the Governor) is interested in peace. He wants everybody to continue to work for the progress of the party. He said it emphatically that there are further elections and that all the aggrieved members should be reached out to before the end of August.”
The source further hinted that some of the PDP leaders given the reconciliation mandate are the Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal – Oke Ogun Zone, Deputy National Chairman (South) of the PDP, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja – Ibadan Zone, Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin – Ibarapa Zone, among others including a close ally of the governor, Otunba ‘Seye Famojuro.
“APC Woos Embattled Chairmen”
OSUN DEFENDER learnt on Monday that the opposition – All Progressives Congress (APC) is concluding consultations to participate in the election.
It was gathered that the party is looking at wooing the aggrieved Chairmen especially those who could not get returned tickets to contest the election on the platform of the party.
A member of the state working committee of the APC stated that emissaries have been sent to the six ousted chairmen to consider defection to the party ahead of the election.
Some of the non-returning council chairmen that had earlier served as Caretakers before council election in May 2021 Include Hon Taoreed Jimoh of Akinyele, Popola Olaide Settle of Oluyole, Musibau Sanusi of Ona Ara Local Government, Muftau Abilawon of Iseyin Local Government and others.
