Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, said on Tuesday, Auguest 03, 2021 promised that he would address all grievances within the State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with a view to making the party more formidable and well-positioned for victories in future elections.
The Governor stated these at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, during a meeting between the party’s stakeholders and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee led by former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the Governor as promising to address all grievances by reaching out to every aggrieved party within a short time.
Governor Makinde, who stated that he has been doing things that are fair and could promote brotherliness and strengthen the party in the state, noted that since the grievances within the party have persisted, it meant that the party must try again to solve the problem.
He called on all sides to unite in the interest of the Oyo State PDP, stating that he has no personal animosity towards anyone and that his desire is to see the party produce more winners in the state in future elections.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the meeting, the chairman of the reconciliation committee, Dr. Saraki expressed delight with the outcome of the meeting, which he termed a family meeting of the PDP.
“All the parties have resolved to work very closely together under the leadership of our performing governor, Seyi Makinde.
“We have all decided to put all the areas of differences aside and work towards ensuring that PDP is victorious not only in the state, but at the national level.
“I want to commend all our stakeholders who have come and have agreed that today is the beginning of a new chapter in Oyo State.
“We want to thank our governor for his commitment as he said ‘I am a beneficiary of what the party is doing and I hope that when I finish my own term too, people in PDP will continue to benefit from that’.
“So, everyone is committed to ensuring that PDP continues to work and strive very strongly here in Oyo State.
“I think it is the beginning, but we have started the process. The commitments have been made by the governor and the stakeholders.
“That has started and some steps have already been taken today. We are very confident that for coming out of it, definitely there is a new dawn ahead of us here in Oyo State.
“The first thing everybody says is that we know that our governor is performing; on the area of governance, we are doing very well.
“They are all proud to be associated with the governor; they believe that there should be a need for more recognition to some of the people that worked hard in the election.
“And the Governor has said ‘I am doing my best; those who have not been fully recognised will be fully recognised’;
“And they have all said once that is done by the governor, they are good to go and they are ready to work with him.
“So, it is just to start implementing those and rolling that down the line.
“The PDP is already a formidable party in Oyo state and in the South-West. What we are trying to do here today is to consolidate on that and from there we also want to move into the South-West to ensure the PDP gets stronger.
“I am confident that with the calibre of people that have attended and the issues expressed are not issues that are insurmountable.
“And the governor has made that commitment and we all know that he is a man that will deliver by his performance and antecedents.
“And I think the country also understands that today, if you look at what is happening in the other party, the alternative for us today is this party.
“They believe that this party is the platform that will provide that future for us in making Nigeria a better place.”
The former Senate President added that the efforts being made by his committee were aimed at consolidating on the formidability of the PDP in Oyo State, stating that with the calibre of people that attended the peace meeting, he was sure that a new dawn had started for the party.
“These are not issues that are not surmountable. The governor has made the commitment and we all know him as a man that will deliver by his performance and antecedents. So, we are confident,” he added.
Saraki, who led a delegation to the office of the Governor, was accompanied by a number of members of the committee including former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; former Governors of Cross River and Gombe States, Senator Liyel Imoke and Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo and former Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola.
