[News] Fayose, Mimiko in battle for the soul of southwest PDP

– There seems to be battle between governor Fayose and governor Mimiko over who controls Southwest PDP

– Two parallel meetings will hold today, May 4 at the Akure, the Ondo State capital, and Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State

– Both meetings is to deliberate on the party’s national convention

Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo state governor and chairman PDP governor’s forum
Ahead of the May 21 national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, the battle for the soul of South-west PDP has pitched two governors in region against each other, The Nation newspaper is reporting.

Two parallel meetings will hold today, May 4 at the Akure, the Ondo State capital, and Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, to discuss its proposed national convention.
While the Akure meeting is at the instance of Ondo state governor Olusegun Mimiko, The Ijebu-Igbo meeting is convened by of Senator Buruji Kashamu (Ogun East) and Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose who is supporting the return of Senator Modu Sheriff as the party’s chairman.
Governor Mimiko on his part is leading party elements opposed to the zoning of the national chairmanship to the North and moves by the chairman, Senator Modu Sheriff, to extend his tenure beyond the May 21 convention.
Quoting a source, the report said the real meeting of PDP leaders in Southwest will take place in Ondo and not Ijebu.
“The real meeting of Yoruba leaders in the PDP takes place tomorrow (today) in Akure. The governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, is convening the meeting on behalf of the leaders. We know that some people have slated a parallel meeting at Ijebu-Igbo. But, that Ijebu-Igbo meeting is a non-event.
“It is possible that some leaders from other zones will also attend the Akure meeting in solidarity with the cause of the Southwest.
“There is an effort to relegate the Southwest to the background in the PDP by some elements who are sacrificing our interest on the altar of their 2019 ambition. These are the Southwest elements backing the zoning of the chairmanship and the presidential candidate of the PDP to the North.”
Those expected at the Akure meeting include former deputy chairman Chief Olabode George, former transport and aviation minister Chief Ebenezer Babatope, former works minister Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, former .majority leader of the House of Representatives Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, former sports and special duties minister Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, former minister of state for the federal capital territory (FCT) Chief Jumoke Akinjide, Senator Femi Kila, Senator Bode Olajumoke, Ambassador Dare Bejide, Chief Ladosu Ladipo, Dr, Doyin Okupe, Chief Yekini Adeojo, Chief Joju Fadairo, Prince Nekan Olateru-Olagbegi and Capt. Tunji Shelle.
At a recent meeting of the Southwest PDP Elders’ Summit in Lagos convened by Bode George, party leaders, especially those attending the Akure meeting, vowed to resist the zoning arrangement, saying that it was in bad faith.
Defending his decision to hold a parallel meeting in Ijebu, Kashamu through his spokesperson, Mr. Austin Oniyokor said he was sure of pulling a bigger crowd to Ijebu Igbo than the Akure meeting.
“We have invited all members of the BoT from the zone. A member of the BoT, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, will chair the meeting.
“We have invited all PDP past and serving governors from the zone, past and serving members of the state Assembly, governorship candidates and their deputies in the 2015 election, 50 leaders from each of the states apart from those already listed.
“The agenda is to deliberate on the offices zoned to the South-West and how to share the offices among the states.”
According to the zoning formula, the national secretary, the national publicity secreatry and the national auditor are zoned to the Southwest.
Meanwhile, Shehu Gabam, a chieftain of the PDP in Bauchi state, has threatened to defect to another party. Gaban complained that the vision and mission of the founding fathers of the party have been neglected by members holding key positions within the PDP.






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