Arewa forum advises PDP delegates to vote only South-west aspirants
- The race for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship position is gathering momentum across the nation
- PDP leaders from the north recently advised delegates from the region to only vote candidates from the south-west region for the chairmanship position
- The group within the party has thrown its weight behind the call
A group known as the Arewa Pathfinders within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has backed the call by Northern Elders and Leaders Forum that all northern delegates should vote South-west chairmanship contestants at the December 9 national convention of the party.
In a statement sent to NAIJ.com on Thursday, December 7, the group said that the northern elders and leaders only re-echoed the position of the PDP southern leaders meeting which was held at the Rivers state Government House, on Thursday, August 2016.
According to them, the PDP southern leaders unanimously agreed to micro-zone the national chairmanship position to the South-west.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel is one of the leading PDP candidates from the South-west for the chairmanship position.
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“It is pertinent to note we are also aware that since that meeting, the southern leaders have not met to reverse it.
“So the call for the National Chairmanship aspirants to go to the Southwest by the Northern Elders is not only valid but honourable,” the statement signed by group's coordinator, Abdullahi Ali Kano and secretary, Saleh Alhassan Tsiga said.
The forum said it aligned itself with the position of the northern elders and leaders, for equity, justice, unity and cohesion of the party.
“There is no doubt that the PDP Northern Elders and Leaders Forum is a platform of respected Nigerians from different states of the federation.
“They have meritoriously served our country in various capacities, in different fields both locally and internationally before joining politics. In politics they have always toiled hard to protect and foster the unity of our country.
Therefore, they deserve some respect and their words are truly the words of wisdom. It is said that, what an elder see while sitting down, a young cannot see even if he climbs the tallest tree,” the statement said.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Professor Tunde Adeniran, Chief Olabode George, Mr Jimi Agbaje, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Professor Taoheed Adedoja and Mr. Segun Aderemi, are candidates from the South-west while Prince Uche Secondus and High Chief Raymond Dokpesi are from the South-south.
Meanwhile, a group known as the South-South Coalition for Good Governance has raised an alarm over a move to scuttle the chance of Prince Uche Secondus emerging as national chairman of the PDP.
In a statement signed by its coordinator, John Boma-Harrison and sent to NAIJ.com, the group said the grand plot is being hatched by former President Goodluck Jonathan, using some of his northern allies.
They also alleged that the former president is mobilizing northern delegates against the candidacy of Secondus, who they noted is a fellow southerner and a proud son of the Niger Delta.
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PDP Chieftain, Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu speaks about the party's crisis on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng