South-West PDP aborts meeting over absence of Fayose, others

Meeting of the South-West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) meant to bring together party members on the sides of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State was aborted following the absence of Fayose and his loyalists.

Fayose’s seat which was tagged was conspicuously left unoccupied at the Oyo State Government House, Ibadan, which was the venue of the meeting.

Present at the venue of the aborted meeting was Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who was meant to serve as a mediator between Makinde and Fayose.

Others present at the Oyo Government House were former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State; former governor Olusegun Oni of Ekiti State; Senator Biodun Olujimi representing Ekiti South and Honourable Rita Orji; candidate of the PDP in the 2020 Ondo governorship election, Mr Eyitayo Jegede.

Asked over the phone about his principal’s absence, Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka said the former governor could not attend the meeting because his loyalists had also resolved to shun Thursday’s meeting.

“The former governor is not coming there. His people said they are not coming and he cannot come there alone,” Olayinka said.

Notable absentees at the meeting were Ladi Adebutu, Eddy Olafeso, Bisi Olopoeyan, Deji Doherty, Femi Babalola among others.

Addressing journalists after a brief meeting with other PDP stakeholders present, Wike said the meeting had to be aborted due to the absence of some persons for “logistics reasons”.

He, however, said the stakeholders resolved to shelve the meeting and give those absent another opportunity to reconsider their stance.

Pointing to the strategic nature of having a peaceful and united South-West PDP, he said efforts continued to be geared to resolve the various interests and bring everybody on board.

Without giving a timeline, he avowed that the aborted meeting will be reconvened as soon as the various warring interests are harmonized.

“There was no PDP stakeholders’ meeting today. Yes, there ought to have been a stakeholders’ meeting but two things that made me come was that the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde is not only a friend, but he is my inlaw and a good friend and I told him that I will come to Oyo State.

“Coincidentally, we were supposed to meet for South-West PDP so I wanted to use one stone to kill two birds. I also said I was going to see some of the projects he was embarking on. Yesterday night, we realized that because of some logistics reasons, some persons were not around and we didn’t want to have a meeting where we will have to reconvene.

“So we said we need to give them the opportunity to come back and then meet. We had that understanding and said I should use that opportunity to make some inspection. But he said there are some leaders of the party that are around and it will be necessary to say hi to them.

“I then obliged that we should respect elders and to also inspect the projects. We already decided that the meeting will not hold today because of the logistics reasons.

“We should not be in a hurry. Peace needs a lot of talking to. In politics, you need to talk to people for people to understand. It is not something that once you meet today, everything must be resolved at that particular day.

“Politics is of interests and you need to make sure everybody is fully involved. So, you do not need to be in a hurry. What is important is for peace to reign in South-West PDP.

“South-West is very important for PDP as far as Nigeria is concerned. Anybody who has the interest of PDP will make sure that South West is intact as far as PDP is concerned,” Wike said.

In his brief remark, Makinde said his concern was to continue to pursue peace in the South-West PDP due to its important role in the fortunes of the party.

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