Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo Federal Constituency, Oyo State, have called for the intervention of Governor Seyi Makinde over the lingering crisis rocking the party in the area.
The stakeholders, drawn from Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East, and Oyo West local government areas, made the appeal following a meeting held over the weekend, during which they stressed the urgent need to rescue and revive the PDP in the federal constituency.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the party members cited factors such as “lopsided sharing of political appointments and slots, anti-party activities, centralisation of power, and non-compliance with the party constitution” as major issues undermining the party’s growth in the constituency.
The communiqué, titled “Urgent need to rescue, revive and salvage PDP in Oyo Federal Constituency,” was signed by former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Morufu Atilola; Alhaji Isiaka Adebayo; Alhaji Fatai Obabi; Mr. Wasiu Olaoti; Mr. Tunde Ogunlana, along with 29 others.
According to the document, “All truly committed members of the PDP in Oyo Federal Constituency have risen up in unison to revive and rescue the party from the imminent collapse due to high-handedness, treachery, selective treatment, falsehood, oppression, and open confrontations.”
The stakeholders urged Governor Makinde, whom they described as the leader of the party in the state, “to decentralise power, allow for all-inclusive participation, and address other issues affecting the party.”
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They also advocated for the formal recognition of former Speaker Atilola as the leader of the PDP in Oyo Federal Constituency, noting that he is a “unifying force and has the ability to promote democratic ideals.”
According to them, considering their proposals would help in finding a lasting solution to the challenges confronting the party in the constituency.
They emphasised that embracing their recommendations would enhance the party’s progress, warning that the current system of proxy leadership has continued to worsen the situation instead of improving it.
The stakeholders further highlighted issues such as “lopsidedness in the sharing of political appointments and slots, anti-party activities among some party leaders, centralisation/concentration of power in one side leading to marginalisation, maligning and oppression, non-functioning of party organs.”
They also criticised “non-compliance with party constitution and joint deliberations and harmonisation during the last local government elections,” and lamented “complete absence of information and communication due to power concentration into one side.”
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