A chieftain of Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Otunba Segun Adewale aka Aeroland, said on Wednesday that he is in the party’s chairmanship race to salvage the PDP in the state, declaring that his aspiration was not about the paraphernalia of office or personal aggrandizements “but to liberate the PDP and Lagosians from the ‘Herods’ that are holding us captive.”
Adewale, who said he remained the only aspirants amongst others with clear agenda and genuine intentions to move the party forward and secure victory for it in the state come 2019, also promised to reconcile every aggrieved member and ensure the return of members that had left if elected as the party’s next chairman in the state.
Besides, he said part of his agenda would be to produce a digital membership register and also analyze causes of PDP continual loss in Lagos with a view to generate scientific and empirical solutions, while initiating a unique membership drive that would endear the PDP to Lagosians who wish to join politics as well as woo those in other political parties to the party platform.
Adewale said this in a statement made available to newsmen, even as he reiterated his absolute loyalty and commitment to the PDP since he became a card carrying member, pointing out that he had never dumped the party for any other party platform.
“I am in this race to salvage the PDP in Lagos State. My aspiration is not about the paraphernalia of office or personal aggrandizements but to liberate the PDP and Lagosians from the ‘Herods’ that are holding us captive.
“I am seeking for an opportunity to genuinely reposition our great party in Lagos for victory at the polls. It is on record that for the first time in the history of the PDP in Lagos, I contested the Senate and won in 6 LGs, this was unprecedented,” Adewale, who was former PDP chairman, said.
Speaking further, the PDP chieftain said, “If given the privilege to serve as chairman, I will ensure that the PDP is visible, we will deploy professionals on the new and conventional media platforms to the benefit of our party.
“For us to change political narrative in Lagos, we must identify our strength in every ward and local government. My plan if elected is to ensure a minimum of 5,000 membership per ward, six (6) months before the 2019 election. As chairman, I will ensure a befitting State Secretariat for the PDP in Lagos, our present rented secretariat has not been renovated since 1999.”
While maintaining that he had remained absolutely loyal and committed to the PDP ever since he became member, Otunba Adewale warned that, “It will be suicidal to commit this great party in the hands of those who have betrayed us in the past over every little disagreement.”
He also warned against imposition of candidate as next chairman of PDP in the state, contending that imposition had been responsible for electoral losses that the PDP had been recording in Lagos since 1999.
On his contribution to the growth of PDP, the party chieftain recalled how he had over the years spent his personal funds towards the promotion of the party, declaring that apart from the party’s former governorship candidate in 2003 poll, late Engr Funso Williams, he with two other chieftains, who he did not name, were those that had deployed their personal funds for the benefits of the Lagos PDP.
“Apart from late Engnr Funso Williams, I am one of three top members of the PDP in Lagos that have deployed their personal funds for the benefits of the PDP. I have always deployed my resources towards provision of amenities in areas where our support base is low, despite that I never enjoyed government patronage,” he said.
He listed the various assistance to include donation of office apartments to the party at Alimosho, Amuwo and Ajeromi, offering of free healthcare services, education and career scholarships to party members at the grassroots as well as empowering PDP members to the tune of over N10million in Alimosho area of the state, among others “all for the party.”
“I am the voice of grassroots members of the PDP in Lagos because I have stood with them through thick and thin, no other contestant can boast of such support,” Adewale boasted.
and then