By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is not an option for Nigerians to move the country forward the way it should be.
Senator Ladoja made this known while speaking during a visit by the Governor Seriake Dickson-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reconciliation committee members to his Ondo Street, Bodija residence in Ibadan.
He declared that it is only the PDP that can bring about the much needed development for Nigeria as a country especially at this crucial period in the history of the country.
“In Nigeria today, APC is not an option. If you are talking of getting power to lift Nigerians out of poverty, serve them, it is those of us in PDP who are going to do that,” he said
Senator Ladoja disclosed that as at present, himself and other National Chairmanship aspirants at the just concluded PDP National Concention in Abuja held discussions after the convention and resolved that they will all remain in the party.
“You would have observed that something dramatic happened at the convention when aspirants from the South-West picked a consensus candidate in Professor Tunde Adeniran. Since the convention, those of us from the South-West have been talking and all of us are remaining in the PDP,” .
Senator Ladoja however lauded the reconciliation committee especially Governor Dickson, describing him as a straightforward governor.
Speaking, a member of the committee, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide maintained that the newly elected PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus had assured the committee that the old order of people bringing issues to the national headquarters to distract the NWC had gone.
“The committee met with the new national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and the new NWC. He spoke at length and passionately about how he has come in as a servant-leader, how the old order will change under his leadership, no imposition of candidates, and no impunity.” She said.
Oloye Jumoke Akinjide added that “he also spoke about how he is going to devolve power to empower the state and zonal leaders and how whatever is decided by the leadership at the state is not going to be changed at the national headquarters.”, saying, ” it is important that we give this message because I know this is what borders people in Oyo and other states. What people can’t win in the state, they will go to Wadata Plaza and misrepresent to get and then this causes disaffection. We can’t deny Secondus’ experience in party administration, starting from the defunct Nigerian Peoples Party (NPN), the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) and then to the PDP. He has occupied position”
“He told us he has seen that bringing problems from the states to the headquarters does not let the NWC do its real job which is to strategise and to lead the party to confront the government in power. So, they don’t want that distraction and he has said we should convey that message everywhere we go that it is not going to be business as usual. We are John the Baptist, the forerunner. He himself [Secondus] is also going to follow once the ground had been wet and broken by us. He and the NWC will follow through on this. I think it is important to give them that benefit of the doubt and support them.
“Oyo is a PDP state and we shall reclaim Oyo in 2019 by the grace of God. We are here to plead that you should not retreat to Oyo, but to help us in the South-West and at the national to reclaim the Presidency”
In his comment, Ambassador Wali lauded the unique contribution of Senator Ladoja to the development of the PDP, and that this had earned him respect which he said was not limited to Yorubaland but spread throughout the country, saying, “we are confident that we will reach our goal with the support and understanding of people like you,” .
