…Host Acting PDP Nat’l chair, NEC, SW leaders to commission Adagunodo building
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Saturday said nobody apart from himself can set agenda for him on what to do next with his political career.
Apparently reacting to insinuations and permutations of him declaring for the Presidential race in 2027, Makinde said he disagreed with those accusing the ruling party of interfering with other political parties in the country so as not to have a formidable opposition in the next election.
Rather, he charged leaders of the leading opposition party across board to look inwards and see how they can work together and salvage the country, adding that the next election will be between the ruling party and Nigerians.
He noted that the next elections will not even be about APC versus PDP, urging members of the PDP to do their own bit to unite the party, unite the base, and let the people of Nigeria speak.
Makinde spoke in a remark while commissioning the newly built Olusoji Adagunodo Southwest Zonal Secretariat.
He was joined at the event by the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Iliya Damagum, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state, former governor Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), members of the National working committee of the party, other leaders from the Zonal and country at large.
The building personally funded by Governor Makinde is named after late Olusoji Adagunodo, a former Chairman of the party in the Southwest.
Corenews reports that Governor Makinde had on the death of Adagunodo promised to build a structure and name it after him, to keep the memory alive.
He also at the event announced the appointment of the son of the late Adagunodo as his Special Adviser on Regional Integration.
Speaking, Makinde thanked his counterpart from osun State, Governor Adeleke, a former Zonal Chairman, Dr Eddy Olafeso among others for showing political maturity and understand in honoring the memory of the late leader by attending the event.
He urged all party fateful to shun any form of discord and disunity that is hindering the party from achieving his mandate in providing the alternative needed by the people.
Makinde said, “What they normally say is, it is not how long, but how well. My dear brother, late Soji Adagunodo was with us for a very short period, but he made a very significant impact on the politics of Southwest of Nigeria. My brother, Governor Adeleke, I want to appreciate you today for being here.
“We had our issues, we were fighting ourselves, especially for the control of Zonal Excos. My dear brother, Governor Adeleke, thank you for being part of this, it shows your magnanimity. That means whatever has happened in the past is behind us.
“Dr. Eddy Olafeso is here. We fought. That is the spirit of PDP. Let me also specially recognize my brother, the next Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Agboola Ajayi.
“This time, two weeks from today, Ondo State people will be in the process of electing him as their next Governor. This is 2pm. Two hours after this time, the results will have started coming out, validating him as the next Governor of Ondo State.
“Those of you thinking that the only way to achieve your dream is for division to be in the PDP, well the Southwest of Nigeria is leading the way. My brother, Adebutu, your own time will also come. I said it before, that when we look at Nigeria, if the Southwest is united, Nigeria will unite.
“The two PDP Governors who are in the Southwest are here together. All our leaders are here. Also from outside of the Southwest, they are also here.
“Governor Ikpeazu from the Southeast, thank you for identifying with us. Governor Ortom from the north central, he is here. Thank you for identifying with us.
“I only have one message, just one thing to say. Yes, we have done this to keep the memory of our brother, Honorable Soji Adagunodo. I want the truth for your state. I just want to make him a legacy. Your wish has been granted today.
“I just want to make an announcement. Also, Soji Adagunodo Jr., you will get your letter as Special Advisor to me on regional integration. I also want to thank Governor Adeleke for loaning him to me.”
He said further “People have been complaining, they have been talking, they have been doing a lot of permutation. Let me say this again. I will say it by myself. Nobody will set an agenda for me apart from myself.
“They have also been talking, the ruling party, all the parties, let me say this, If you are accusing the ruling party that they are the ones putting their hands into all other parties to ensure that they don’t get their hearts together so that there will be no opposition in 2027, my own position is, there are certain things that you have under your own control.
“Whether me and Governor Adeleke will cooperate for the growth and benefit of our party in the Southwest states, it is beyond the ruling party. It is between me and Governor Adeleke. So please, let us all work together, unite our base, that is all that we need to do.
“The next election will be APC versus Nigerians. It is not even about APC versus PDP. So let us do our own bit to unite our party, unite our base, and let the people of Nigeria, let them speak.”
He noted that external people cannot have control over what happens in the party, adding that even if they try, they will fail
“They have done it in Oyo State, they have done it in Osun State, they will do it in Nigeria. So please, don’t fret. Don’t even think external people have control over what will happen in our party.
“Yes, they may try, but it is only when we allow it. So I admonish PDP all over the country. The way to demonstrate this is when you know one, two, or three people in those states, call them. Tell them PDP is united. Tell them on those state elections coming up two weeks from now, we’ll give an indication where Nigeria will be in 2027. So let us unite.
“I’m glad that we’re opening this house. It’s a demonstration of our unity. I’m also glad that our acting national chairman is here. The kind of story they would have loved to be hearing is that, okay, the counter suspension is still on, but where is that? It is behind us. We’re even more united to move forward. So I thank you all for being here.”
Speaking earlier, Governor Adeleke said the significance of the event is a clear call for unity and deeper brotherhood among PDP at home and abroad.
He said “We must forget the past of division and unite for the good of our dear party. It is better for us to fight each other inside the government house than outside. We must refocus attention on building strong administrative operational structures.
“With that, we can deploy for election, retain our existing state, and even expand our reach across the six zones of the federation.
In his remarks the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Damagum described Adagunodo as a kind and down to earth man whose contributions added value to the succeeses the party has attained in the country.
He joined the earlier speakers to call for unity of the party saying the party remains the only brand that nobody can challenge.
He said, the party can only save the country if it stands united, noting that everybody is currently feeling the pinch of hardship occasioned by the current administration in the country.
He assured that with unity, the party can reclaim all the states of the Sputhwest and the entire country as a whole.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of the documents and keys of the building to the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Damagun who also led party leaders to inspect and commission the building.
