Posted by From SEYE OJO, Ibadan on
The impending National Delegates Convention of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will hold in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria on March 8 this year and not in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as earlier speculated.
•Pledges South-West support for Egwu
The impending National Delegates Convention of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will hold in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria on March 8 this year and not in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as earlier speculated.
The controversial PDP chieftain in Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu disclosed this on Thursday while speaking with journalists shortly after he played host to one of the candidates for the National Chairmanship Dr. Sam Egwu and his campaign train that stormed Ibadan to seek the support of party leaders in the south-west.
It would be recalled that there were insinuations, over the weekend, that the National Delegates Convention of the party would be shifted to Ibadan in order to give the party the national outlook it deserves instead of holding the all-important meeting in Abuja all the time.
He explained that Ibadan was not prepared, let alone ready, to host the delegates of the party across the country sequel to safety and logistic reasons.
Adedibu while welcoming Egwu and his team to his residence at Molete in Ibadan, assured them of the support of all PDP leaders in the South-West, including the speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole.
According to Adedibu, PDP South-West caucus always speaks with one voice, and the Speaker will not have any choice than to follow the decision of the party's leaders from the geo-political zone.
'The speaker is my son. He is an obedient son and he must follow our decision. He is one of us in the South-West, and when we speak in South-West, we always speak with one voice," he said.
Those who were at Adedibu's residence to welcome Igwu included; former military administrator of Lagos State, Col. Raji Rasaki (rtd), Azeem Gbolarunmi and controversial leader of the Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lateef Akinsola Tokyo.
Adedibu maintained that all PDP members in Oyo state are solidly behind the candidature of the former Ebonyi State Governor to become the next PDP National Chairman.
Adedibu noted that since former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared his support for Egwu, himself and his people in Oyo State would leave no stone unturned with a view to make sure that Egwu emerged as the successor to Senator Ahmadu Alli.
While saying that his Molete, Ibadan residence is an extension of Obasanjo's Ota farm in Ogun State, Adedibu stressed that the votes of all the delegates from the South-West are intact for Egwu. He expressed optimism that Egwu would eventually emerge as a consensus candidate for the post.
He said further, 'I trust Obasanjo in Ota, he is somebody God has given the wisdom to make things happen. He will perfect everything. Other contestants will eventually withdraw for you.
'We will be coming for the convention just to formalize it. Obasanjo always does what God has endorsed, and God always endorses whatever Obasanjo does. Your candidature was anointed because of your commitment and dedication to our great party."
He revealed that he shelved his initial plan to travel to Abuja to felicitate with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, who was conferred with a national honour because of Egwu's visit.
Egwu who earlier paid courtesy call on Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala was referred to Adedibu at his Molete residence, describing the abode of the PDP chieftain as the headquarters of the party in the state.