Kashamu warns against imposition of PDP chairman

The Senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, has warned against the imposition of a chairman on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adding that doing so would have a grave effect on the party.

In a statement issued on Monday, Kashamu said before the emergence of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee, “a generally acceptable zoning of national executive positions had been reached; where the national chairmanship was zoned to the South, on the understanding that the next presidential candidate shall be of northern extraction.”

According to him, major stakeholders in the party were of the view that it would be equitable and just to concede the national chairmanship position to the South West, which had not had the privilege of producing the National Chairman of the party since its inception.”

He, however, expressed concern that the emerging scenario suggested that an aspirant from the South-South might be imposed on the party at its convention slated for December 9.

According to the lawmaker, the major South-South contestants, Prince Uche Secondus and High Chief Raymond Dokpesi are eminently qualified for the National Chairmanship of our party, except for the process and implications of a unilateral imposition.”

Kashamu warned that such imposition would spell doom for the party as it could result in mass exodus of prominent members from the party.

In his suggestion on how the South West could guard against losing the chairmanship position to another geo-political zone, Kashamu stated that, “Preliminary consensus amongst major South West stakeholders inclusive of the chairmanship aspirants is for the South West to unite under one zonal executive.

“Thus, it is being proposed that the Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe and Dr. Eddy Olafeso zonal excos be harmonised into a generally acceptable wholesome zonal exco. In this light, a global meeting of over 250 eminent leaders is being proposed soonest at Ibadan, Oyo State, to fashion out a generally acceptable unified Yoruba position in the PDP.”

The PDP lawmaker added, “I have no personal issues with anybody as my guiding principles have always been equitable justice, disdain for impunity and adherence to the rule of the Law. I love my people very dearly and I have readily been working for them. Also, my people evidently love me so much that my winning election is not predicated on party platform. I am therefore constrained to always work for the greater interest of my people. A lot of PDP leaders are this loved and lucky with their people, thus we need to be extremely careful not to frustrate people out of PDP because of impunity.”