Femi Olagunju, Abuja
LEADER of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in South-West, Chief Olabode George, at the weekend, led members of the party in the zone to President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.
The agenda of the two-hour meeting was the alleged marginalisation of party members in federal appointments.
The 2015 presidential election was also discussed.
At the meeting were Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, George, Minister of State, Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide.
Others are former governors Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Olusegun Agagu (Ondo), Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Segun Oni (Ekiti), Isiaka Adeleke (Osun), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Major-General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd), Chief Buruji Kashamu, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, Professor Tunde Adeniran, Mrs. Titi Oseni, Chief Kola Balogun, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarunmi, Mrs. Adedibu, Prince Akitoye, Chief Tunji Shelle, Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak, among others.
George, who read a speech, spoke on how party members in the zone, voted for Jonathan in the 2011 election.
He, however, regretted that the zone has been marginalised in federal appointments since 2011, citing a state like Lagos without a minister.
Amid applause, George said party in the zone believed in Jonathan’s vision to turn Nigeria around and made a strong case for party members, insisting that they were ready to work for the President and the party in future partisan engagements.
After the speech, George received a standing ovation from those present.
Gulak, who was the moderator, announced that a representative from each of the six states in the South-West, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti, would make a short presentation.
Unanimously, the members said George had presented their position in his speech and there was nothing to add to what he said.
When Tukur spoke, he urged party members to always maintain discipline in the zone, insisting that the national headquarters would no longer tolerate indiscipline among members.
Sambo urged them to always support Federal Government’s programmes.
Jonathan, in his speech, described George as the leader of the party in the zone.
He said: “As the leader of PDP in South-West, I congratulate you for this brilliant speech. Thank God the Vice President and National Chairman of our great party are here. We will try to address the issues raised in your speech. The Yoruba race is very important in this country. We will do everything to ensure that the PDP remains strong in the South-West”.
After the meeting, party members in each of the state were mandated to meet their leaders and strategise on how to ensure the party becomes stronger to win back some of the states now under the control of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Another meeting was fixed for next month with the President.
