Few weeks ago, the PDP LG Executive Committee and the eleven Ward Chairmen met with the PDP Leaders' Forum at the instance of the former LG Executive Chairman on the platform of NRC ,and then the pioneer Chairman of PDP ,Ondo State and later former Minister of Education (State), Ch. Adewumi Abitoye over a lingering crisis on party rebuilding efforts but now amicably and peacefully resolved in the interest of the majority of party members.
Building on the relationship, the former two-term parliamentarian in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly who doubles as the critical leader of the Leaders' Council in the afternoon of Monday ,14th March, 2022 in Owo LG interfaced with the members of the Central Committee once again at his residence in Ijebu as a way of rebuilding the PDP through constant familiarisation and engagement on both party and national issues. The meeting was brief though but was also loaded with great achievements.
The PDP Central Working Committee in a unanimous decision described the quality interface and engagement as a good step taking in the right direction by the political gladiator.
The PDP Chairman, High Ch. Idris.O Olafimihan Asaba appreciated the magnanimity of the PDP stalwart and political bigshot in Ondo State and Nigeria for calling such a meeting at this critical time of economic woes and political turmoil in the nation. He enjoined his lieutenants to use the occasion to further consolidate on the gains of the truce previously broken genuinely and peacefully between party officers and leaders few weeks ago. He didn't forget to admonish the great leader to continue to open his door for constructive criticism as the leader of the party in all ramifications.
While addressing the PDP Executive Officers,Prince Ojomo said he was extremely overwhelmed with joy considering the attendance witnessed. He thereafter pleaded with the officers to let bye-gone be bye-gone. According to him, "I have summoned you here to thank you for your love and peaceful disposition that made our last meeting a huge success. He then concluded, " I purposefully want to again tender my unreserved apology to you all as your leader ,and our entire members over my previous shortcomings as leadership is all about responsibility. Please, as principal stakeholders, let us unite to rebuild the party ,our PDP together. This is my message to you and nothing more."
"This is a rare wisdom and a welcomed development from our leader. This is an exceptional pattern in conflict resolution and management. This is humility in leadership and dignity for human person taken to another dimension." These were the words of Professor Kadara, his Ward Vice-Chairman whose real name is Alh. Isiaka Obanigba. He later abreast the former MHR of the PDP Secretariat to be paid for as a good one has been secured. Obanigba also used the occasion to challenge the leader and others to support financially the voter's registration exercise that will come up soon in all wards in Owo LGA.
To Hon. Adebo Afolabi ,one of the critical actors that facilitated the previous meeting of the committee with Leaders' Council, he saluted the courage of the great leader and the former MHR with track record of unparalleled achievements for calling such a meeting at this critical time. He saluted his courage too for walking the talks as pledged at the previous meeting. However, he used the occasion to call for accelerated action on the resolutions of the said meeting to fast track harmonious relationship between party officers and the leaders/Elders while assuring the leadership of the party that peace and progress are guaranteed.
While also making his contribution, Ch. Festus Eleduma,one of the Ex-Officios praised the courage of the quintessential leaders for his humility and matured disposition towards party affairs especially with this uncommon act of bravery. He maintained that his heart was once again won by Hon. Alaba-Lad Ojomo by his decision to call the meeting and his unalloyed plea for forgiveness over any of his past inadequacies and those of other leaders. " This is leadership. I'm convinced so are my colleagues here that you are a listening and fair leader."
While thanking the stakeholders for their love and presence within a short notice, he pledged further that more of the engagements shall be staged frequently. However, he pledged to support the Secretariat and the registration exercise but explained that he had previously donated his previous campaign office behind ECO Bank at Mobil, Ijebu ,Owo to the party but was rejected may be for its location and size/status for now. The party chairman told me that you all preferred a PDP Secretariat located at Oke-Ogun Road in the ancient town.
It's important to note that the party officers some months ago challenged the leadership of the LGA to address all previous shortcomings of all stakeholders and hierarchies to rebuild the PDP in Owo LGA to a winning status.
After several meetings of the LG Central Working Committee and the Leaders' Council separately, the two bodies met and all grey areas were addressed with resolutions unanimously made and adopted but given to the Secretary of the Leaders' Council draft and submitted for review and ratification. This is believed to be a working paper for the party in Owo when eventually signed by all critical stakeholders.
Ojomo later revealed," The resolutions have been drafted as agreed by the Secretary,Hon. Ojo Filani. I have seen it but i's and t's need to be dotted and crossed respectively. I directed that the draft with my observations be taken to Ch. Adewumi Abitoye for his inputs before it is tabled before the joint sitting for further deliberations and ratification."
Below is the report of the said meeting presided over by Ch. Adewumi Abitoye held few weeks ago in Akure.
PDP Owo Local Government Chapter Sets To Rescue Power From The Ruling APC,; Tasks Stakeholders To Mend Fences
The entire PDP family in Owo and her environs had been seriously faced with difficult challenges and allegations and counter-allegtions against leaders and followers on anti-party activities not excluding other critical stakeholders among its ranks and files. This ugly scenario did not only create unhealthy partitions within the party ,it has also extremely hampered the collective yearnings and aspirations of the entire members of the party especially the loyal and faithful ones whose genuine efforts were constantly ,over this period ,been taken to the abattoir's slab as their honest labour of love was rubbished by disturbing electoral inadequacies and general shortcomings of members .
Redemption as regard the future of the party however came recently when the local government central working committee under High Ch. Asaba challenged the party leadership in the LGA and charged them to take the bulls by the horns through a powerful letter written to the PDP Leaders' Council in Owo , which was duly signed by the PDP Chairman ,High Ch. Idris Okeowo Olafimihan-Asaba and his Secretary, Hon. Adebo Afolabi on behalf of other party officers through its Secretary, Hon. Ojo Filani.
The leaders met in Akure at the residence of the great and highly cerebral political juggernaut ,the pioneer State Chairman of the party and Hon. Minister for Education, (State), Ch. Adewumi Abitoye who also is from the LGA. The grey areas were critically debated and straightened among the leaders previously from the report reaching Abejoye Media but they later resolved to interface with the central working committee on the allegations levelled against the party leadership especially during the last gubernatorial election so as to put defence in case they were wrongly accused.
During the crucial meeting facilitated and hosted by Dr Adewumi Abitogun for the two critical stakeholders to interface and interact ,the local government central working committee members were led by High Ch. Okeowo Idris Olafimihan-Asaba but the leaders by Ch. Adewumi Abitoye. The central working committee members were allowed to present their cases and substantiated their allegations without any intimidation for fair hearing as entrenched in the party constitution. The leaders too were also provided window for defence as Dr Adewumi Abitoye responsibly and with great patience and decorum presided over the meeting.
It was a tensed atmosphere for all stakeholders, but with the opportunities provided for both sides to listen to themselves,the tension was eventually doused. At long last, the smeared relationship was smoothened as the information gap that necessitated the unfortunate political imbroglio was instantly and legitimately bridged. The congress of leaders,elders and local government central working committee at this instance later provided opportunity for reaching critical resolutions that would henceforth help the party to have a new footing and clear direction in its future engagements.
Largely ,every stakeholder unanimously agreed at the meeting that the coveted position of the governor which currently is occupied by an Owo indigene ,HE,Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN has largely incapacitated most politicians,opinion leaders and critical stakeholders which eventually caused dwindling fortune and popularity as well as reduce the grip of the PDP in the LGA. Every stakeholder also agreed to take responsibility for his/her actions and inactions considering the fact that elections are won on numerical strength and the acceptance of shortcomings which remains the required panacea to finally resolve the lingering crisis.
The Secretary of the Leaders' Council, a former Caretaker Chairman in the LGA, Hon. Ojo Filani popularly known as Alumatogwa was charged with the responsibility of the speedy tidying up of the resolutions for consideration in another meeting to be called at such instance anytime from now.
Barring all unforseen circumstances, it is now clearer that the PDP will regain her prominence in Owo and her environs considering the massive return of gladiators and open support for the party now after unappreciated investment and futile political sojourn in the ruling party, APC at all levels by those who hurriedly left PDP for greener political pastures . To many people especially opinion leaders,critical stakeholders and conscious politicians,the end has come for the APC now that the governor is in his second term and considering the obvious woes that now betide the nation and her entire populace. There is no more Owo Agenda as evidently propagated in the last six years of Aketi-led administration by critical stakeholders who drive the project and the vehicle of political engagement in the LGA .
After the meeting ,while reacting to questions on the letter and the outcome of the crucial meeting from Abejoye Media, Dr Alaba-Lad Ojomo, a two-term parliamentarian in the Green Chamber of National Assembly and one of the leaders and elders of the party with deep mine of experience, great fountain of wisdom and uncommon understanding as corroborated by his quality interactions during the meeting vehemently opined, " It's necessary to interface and interact with ourselves. It's important and never out of place as the nation goes into another round of elections. To me, this meeting is in order .I thank the local government central working committee members.The bigger challenge is that the APC has messed up the economy,and our general moral values have been badly eroded.The nation at the moment is in a serious problem as it has been Hobbesian Jungle. The APC is tired admittedly ,and they must be retired compulsorily. So ,seriously speaking ,there is need to put our house in order to achieve this goal. To continue to fold our arms without any effort will be a catastrophe and our collective undoings. "
Dr Adewumi Abitoye while also responding to questions from Abejoye Media has this to say. " I must confess to you, I'm very worried when the local government central working committee raised objections to the activities of the party leadership. I thought the crisis will blossom and success will be difficult to achieve. The purpose of the meeting is put our house in order. At long last ,I'm extremely happy that this meeting has helped resolve the lingering crisis in its entirety. I thank every stakeholders for this feat recorded." He further stressed with incurable enthusiasm, " The resolutions shall be bulleted for our considerations as we have unanimously agreed that the resolutions after its ratification should be our template of action to actualize our collective goals as political family. '"
"Our Executive Committee members and the leaders will now return to the drawing board to cross all t's and dot all i's where necessary. This is a new beginning. The emancipation of the nation through rebuilding of our great party especially at our levels is mandatory. It's the duty of all concerned party men and women and Nigerians.. "
On the pariah state of the nation, Abitoye posited" The future of our nation is already in jeopardy with the inevitable swallows now evident and begging for redress. The prevailing ugly situation is disturbing and consequently heartbreaking. The entire population has rejected the APC no doubt because of its failed electoral promises and excruciating pains heaped on the hapless citizens' heads and shoulders. PDP is the only alternative for now. This is the obvious. I laughed when I heard some myopic politicians considering the possibility of a Third Force when the general elections begin next year February. I repeat ,PDP is the only alternative. Anything away from this, Nigeria will further sinks into anomie. '
The meeting was well attended by all the entire local government central working committee members except few . On the party of the Elders Council, the Secretary- Hon. Ojo Filani, Hon. Tunji Dairo, Barr. Dupe Aisida, Arch. Sadiq Obanoyen, Bashorun Abitogun , Surv. S. O Ogunniyi a.k.a Lawrenco, Hon. (Mrs) Khadijat Eniolorunda among others were all in attendance.
Abejoye Media ,while feeling the pulses of disturbed members of the local government central working committee, gathered that they were seriously agitating for more responsive and responsible leadership in future electoral engagements so as to boost the fortune of the party in the LGA henceforth.
You will recall that the open intimidation of PDP members especially during elections does not go well with the committee as the highest decision making organ of the party at local government level. This obviously might have necessitated the letter on which this critical meeting was summoned.
