S’ West PDP demands for National Chair slot

Ahead of the forthcoming National convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), members of the party in the South-West geo-political zone have demanded for the post of the National Chairman of the party. The South-West wing of the PDP declared that the geo-political zone, without any fear or favour, deserves to be given the position.

The South West wing of the party, in a statement, on Sunday, by former Special Adviser (Media) to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said it is only the zone that is yet to hold the position in the 18 years existence of the party. The demand for the position came after the meeting of the South West PDP in Lagos which was attended by the cream of the authentic Yoruba leadership in the southwest at the Golden Gates Hotel on Kingsway road, Ikoyi, under the Chairmanship of Chief Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party.

According to the statement, “We the Yoruba’s from the Southwest, desire and demand the post of the national chairman at the next convention of the party. “The followings are the past Chairmen: Chief Solomon Lar, Chief Gemade, Chief Audu ogbe, Prince Ogbulafor, Dr. Nwodo, Alhadji Baraje, Dr Haliru Bello (Acting), Alhadji Bamanga Tukur, Alhadji Adamu Muazu, Prince Secondus(Acting),and Sen Sheriff.

“From the above, within the last 18years, there have been 11 chairmen from 5 geopolitical zones. Only the Yoruba Race from the South-West have been precluded from this exalted office. “In the interest of fairness, equity and Justice, it is most compelling that the Yorubas of the Southwest zone must be allowed to contest for this post at this coming National convention.

“Any attempt to do anything to the contrary, no matter the reason advanced cannot be acceptable. “Failure for a Yoruba man to emerge as the national chairman can only mean two things: That there is a pervasive and concealed hatred for the southwest in the PDP or that the PDP has very little or no regard for Yoruba interest as was envinced by the obvious cheating of the Southwest from the position of the Speaker in 2011, which was never rectified nor compensated for the whole of four years.

“The sad implication of the above is that, regrettably, many of us from the southwest may have to reconsider our membership of this great party we have helped to nurture and supported through thick and thing, a party we have loved almost more than our very existence, and the party we have served with all our natural endowment, in victory and defeat.