PDP Chairmanship: It’s turn of S’West – Babatope
….Backs George for coveted position
Former Minister of Aviation and Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, has said that it is the turn of the South West to occupy the position of National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), just as he reiterated his support for the emergence of Chief Olabode George as the party’s chairman.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos Wednesday which also had in attendance other members of Bode George for Chairman Campaign Organisation, Babatope said that giving the chairmanship position of PDP to the South West region was the righteous path.
“Our party, the Peoples Democratic Party was in power for 16 years of unbroken democratic governance. In this particularisation, every zone in this pluralistic nation had enjoyed the significant helmsmanship of our party’s apex leadership except the South West.
“This is troubling. This is not fair. This is unacceptable. This much we will fight against with all our strength, with all our energy and with all our purposeful dedication.
“There is no doubt about it : it is our turn. Now it is our right as the people of the South West to mount the apex leadership of our party.
“Now, this much is our position. Now this much is our pursuit. Now, this much is our absolute declaration: We need the best of us. We are resigned and resolved to bring out the great personality that will seize the moment and steer our party back to national leadership and purposeful renewal.
“In this pursuit, in this firm resolve and contemplative clarity, we hereby proclaim and assert that Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George is the best candidate for the job,” Babatope said.
He said PDP can be enhanced and renewed towards the winning ways only “when we bring out the tested, the proven, the matured and the responsible person to lead us to electoral victory in 2019.
“This is not the time for trial and error. This not the time for some crude illogic experimentation.
“We dare not fail. We dare not falter. We dare not temporize nor make the wrong move. Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George is now the man of destiny. He is the right choice for our party, now in this challenging time”, Babatope further said.
He continued, “Our resolve is not frivolous. We are very serious. We want the best for our party. We want the best for our nation.
“We have weighed Chief Bode George on all complementary criteria for our party’s leadership. He is proven and tested.
He is serious and dedicated. He is honest, fair, smart, sharp, intelligent, humble, sincere, patriotic, accommodating, selfless, candid, totally resolved on justice and fair play.
“This is the man that can now help our party to resuscitate and renew itself along the line of a triumphant new beginning. Our challenges are many. The road ahead is still very rough and unclear. Nothing yet is certain,” Babatope said.
Listing the achievements of George in the past, Babatope said In 2003 he coordinated and brilliantly marshalled the PDP victory in the South West where the party won five out of the six states.
He said, “George is an instinctive peace maker whose historic effort brought together the Ife people and the Modakeke people to a permanent peace table, thereby banishing forever the internecine war that had disrupted and destroyed the peace of both communities for decades.”
He added that the Yoruba people have clearly and boldly made their choice, “at the Akure declaration where the genuine and legitimate leaders of our people gave a resounding consensus to the candidacy of Chief Olabode George as our choice for the chairmanship job.”
Other members of the campaign committee present at the press conference include former Ogun state chairman of PDP, Chief Joju Fadairo, former Lagos state chairman of the PDP, Captain Olatunji Shelle, and former National Youth Leader of the party, Mr. Dare Adeleke.
