Daily Trust Saturday

‘Strong men’ behind PDP chairmansh­ip contenders

Pundits say if the party makes a wrong choice at the convention, it would affect its chances of winning the 2019 presidenti­al election and other states. However, it is left to be seen how party stakeholde­rs and delegates would slug it out, considerin­g how

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remained the best man for the job. “I know OGD very well and I have absolute confidence in him to unite the PDP and give us a good candidate capable of winning the 2019 presidency. He is profoundly a good man. This is a quest to save our nation and ensure that we place Nigeria on the right footing,” he said.

Fani-Kayode admitted that there were other aspirants from the South West, but argued that Daniel stood out because of his benign dispositio­n and sagacity to steer the murky waters of the nation’s polity.

Also backing Daniel is former presidenti­al aspirant on the PDP platform, Dr. Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa, who said Daniel is a force to be reckoned with.

Senator Adeleke, from Ekiti State, has also expressed his feeling that Daniel is the right person for the job.

The former governor declared his intention to run for the party’s coveted seat last Wednesday, in Abuja, and promised to change the tide in the party’s leadership. Former Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri; ex-Minister of Environmen­t, John Odeh; Senator Paulinus Igwe, Senator Solomon Ewuga, were all in attendance.

Waziri confessed that he had attended Adeniran’s campaign flag-off as well, but explained that he was at Daniel’s in order to do a comparison of different aspirants for him to make the right choice. He also advised other party members to be attending the different declaratio­ns.

Daniel, on his part, explained that the PDP lost power not because it didn’t perform, but because the party miscalcula­ted on certain aspects of its politics and got entangled in indiscipli­ne, impunity, lack of internal democracy, imposition and “dangerous introducti­on of ticket racketeeri­ng to unpopular candidates.” He argued that the alteration of the time-tested zoning formula and convention also contribute­d in no small measure to the undoing of the PDP and promised to uphold the vision and mission of the party’s founding fathers and internal democracy in order for the party to return to power in 2019, if given the mandate.

His Campaign Co-ordinators for the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were also inaugurate­d at the event. Independen­t Television and Raypower FM.

Former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, had reportedly endorsed the Edo State-born politician when he took his campaign team to visit the ex-military leader. According to reports, IBB said: “I have blessed High Chief Dokpesi to pursue the noble objective of contesting for the post of national chairman of the PDP.”

IBB also described Dokpesi as a strong pillar in the nation’s democratic project, who he said has played his part courageous­ly and patriotica­lly. Our correspond­ent was reliably informed that some key leaders of the party, such as Senator Aniete Okon, Senator Paul Wampana, Yisa Braimoh, former governorsh­ip aspirant in Adamawa State, Auwal Bamanga Tukur and many others are supporting Dokpesi’s project.

Similarly, Senator Tunde Ogbeha recently threw his weight behind Dokpesi when the latter paid him a visit in his Abuja residence to inform him of his chairmansh­ip ambition. He stated that the PDP needed a quality leader like Dokpesi to enable the party reclaim power in 2019.

“Today, I am supporting you (Dokpesi). I will use whatever I have to mobilize for you in ensuring you emerge the national chairman of our great party, so that the party members and Nigerians can benefit from the dividends of democracy,” he said.

Pundits say if the party makes a wrong choice at the convention, it would affect its chances of winning the 2019 presidenti­al election and other states. However, it is left to be seen how party stakeholde­rs and delegates would slug it out, considerin­g how the South in general would work to checkmate or even upstage the ruling APC.

 ??  ?? Chief Bode George
Chief Bode George

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