Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and some of his loyalists within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, on Friday, shunned the peace move by National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur.
His followers which include, National Secretary of the Party, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, ousted Deputy National Chairman, South West, Engr. Segun Oni and former Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, all stayed away from the meeting.
Former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who his not in the Obasanjo camp was also absent.
But the parley which was aimed at resolving the crisis in the South-west zone held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Tukur while speaking, appealed to the members to re-unite as one in the interest of peace.
According to him, “It is important to have back the South West, considering its importance in the country, in the economy, politics and education. Politics is not a joke. We do it to get power and use the substance of power to serve our members.
“If you do not acquire power through legal votes, you will not be able to serve diligently those that voted you in.
“If we fail to toe the line, some people will take over our right to govern the states in the South West.
“Let us make it the last time that South West will be under any political party except PDP.”
The Chairman of the Zonal Caretaker Committee, Chief Ishola Filani, had earlier explained that the zone was facing some challenges since it lost the states.
He said his committee had been meeting with aggrieved members in the zone.
“We will continue to forge ahead in search of unity, which is necessary to win the election come 2015,” he said.
He assured Tukur that they would continue to justify the confidence reposed in them to win back aggrieved members into the party.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada said PDP members across all the states in the South West had learnt their lessons and are ready to turn a new leaf.
She added that they were ready to reconcile and come together to take back power in the zone in 2015.
The reconciliation committee is headed by former national deputy chairman, Chief Shuaibu Oyedokun.
Each state is expected to nominate two representatives into the reconciliation committee.
Other notable members of the party in attendance include former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Otunba Iyiola Omisore; former Senate Leader, Hon. Teslim Folarin, Chief Buruji Kasamu; former Osun State Governor, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose; Chief Tunde Olowofoyeku; Chief Abiola Ogundokun; Senator Lekan Balogun; Garuba Umar and Ambassador Gbenga Olofin.
Others are the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Adeola Akande; former Minister of Sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja; Hon. AJibola Muraina; Alhaji Yekini Adeojo; Deputy Senate Chief Whip, Senator Hosea Agboola; Oyo State Chairman of PDP, Yinka Taiwo; his Ondo State counterpart, Hon. Ebenzer Olu Alabi; Osun State Chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa and Lagos State Chairman, Hon. Tunji Shelle, among others.
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