…As Olagunsoye led committee says human interest bane of party challenge
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde on Wednesday charged the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party to ensure it adopt and implement the final recommendations of the National Reconciliation Committee of the party, if the party must achieve unity ahead of 2027.
This is as the Reconciliation committee said it has identified conflicting human interest among others as the bane of the challenges rocking the party, saying the issues are not difficult to surmount.
The resolves were made during a luncheon held for the members of PDP National Reconciliation Committee, led by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola at the Presidential Lodge of the Oyo State Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.
While appreciating the National Working Committee of the party for deeming it fit to put the committee together, Governor Makinde who was represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal said failing to make use of the recommendations of the highly cerebral and committed members of the committee, may send the party back to square one ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Makinde said “We wish to put on regard, first and foremost that the National Working Committee had thought it wise at this point in time, to put in place a National Reconciliation Committee headed by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
“It couldn’t have been otherwise because we know the crisis that we went through leading to the 2023 general elections and we saw the outcome which was not too good.
“Moving forward, this is apposite for us to step forward and do reconciliation. Our people are aggrieved, they are not happy and the issues are not the same across the states of our zone.
“That this NWC have put in place this strong reconciliation in place shows clearly that we are ready and willing to embrace reconciliation and we are ready to move the party forward against future elections.
“So, Our appreciate first and foremost goes to the NWC of the PDP. Our second appreciation goes to members of the Committee based on their rich experience.
These are people coming with very very rich experience in politics, in business, in profession so also all other members of the committee. So there’s no way we can pay tribute that would capture the sacrifices that you have put into this assignment, only God Almighty would reward you and that reward would come when this assignment that you have undertaken sees the light of the day the way we want it.
“I want to on behalf of His Excellency be place on record that as you move on, the national working committee must ensure then that the outcome of your exercise are really implemented. Without it, we will be back to square one.
“We don’t want to be back to square one. So this is a call to the national working committee, the Board of Trustees and to all members of our great party, PDP. ”
The governor also charged the members of the committee to ensure they capture all identified challenges and issues while also giving their final reports as they recommend way forward for the party.
“We know clearly that the six state comprised in the Southwest geopolitical zone have made representation to you in the last two days and you have listened to them and we know very clearly that because of who you are, you won’t shy away from telling each state the whole truth because without that we won’t easily move forward.
“So when you’re writing your report, ensure that wherever you observe lapses, lacuna and what have you, all of those will come into play in terms of recommendation that would go to the national working committee of our party”, Makinde added.
While speaking on the preliminary findings from the tour of the Southwest states, Chairman of the PDP National Reconciliation Committee, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola said the findings were not too different from an earlier effort facilitated by Governor Seyi Makinde.
He said there were no extraneous challenges other than those bothering on human interest, noting that same is peculiar to where people wants their interest protected.
He however expressed optimism that the issues identified were not more than what the party can easily address.
Oyinlola said, “For me as a person, what we have done in the Southwest is a repetition. Why did I say so? not long ago, I led same reconciliation committee that went round the Southwest. And as at then, we were able to identify the issues that were militating against our unity and success.
“Senator Kola Balogun was there then. We have gone round the state that time. Governor Seyi Makinde put in place, having noticed the kind of acrimony within the party across the zone, that was why we went round the six states in the zone and we were able to identify the problems and challenges that were facing the party.
“There were no extraneous challenges other than those bothering on human interest. In any party, jostling for positions, wanting one thing or the other becomes the order because there is nobody who doesn’t like anything good.
“And where equity is not in place, there will be disunity. There’s nothing too serious, talking away from what we had done earlier that the party cannot easily address.
“For instance, there were complaints that congresses were not carried out in line with the dictates of the party’s constitution. That is an anomaly, those are the things we would try and make sure we do not repeat in future exercises.
“What we have put in place, if we have not taken cognizance of the fact that things are not well with out party, this committee will not be in place and that is to tell you that we have identified our problems and we are talking steps to address them, that is what we have putting in place.”
Speaking on the situation of affairs with the Oyo State Chapter of the party, the former Osun governor said “When we took Oyo State, case, I was so happy withing me, because, like I said, I had been through this exercise on the orders of Governor Seyi Makinde and when they came yesterday (Tuesday), I saw our leaders, all sitting together. Baba Saka Balogun, Mayor and even Gbolarunmi, it was not so when we had the first exercise, and that’s the truth of the matter.
“So, we have moved away from what it was as at the time I carried out the last exercise from what it is today and we thank God for that.”,
