Senator Abiodun Olujimi.
By Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Ekiti South Senatorial District on Friday rejected the directive allegedly handed down by the former Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose not to vote for the Senate Minority leader, Chief Biodun Olujimi in the February 16 election.
The chairmen who met in Ikere Local Government vowed to deliver the six local governments which form the senatorial district to Olujimi and the Presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubarker.
In the Communiqué read by Engr. Ajibade Olajoyin who is the party Leader in Ikere Local Government, said the rejection was premised on the negative impact of such directive on the future of the PDP in Ekiti State.
Other leaders from Ikere Local Government at the meeting included Hon. Bode Adewole, member, Assembly Service Commission, Hon. Toba Ogunmusanmi, former LG Party Chairman, Mr Olorunfemi Sunday, Deputy Party Chairman and Mrs Funmi Alonge- leader.
The party leaders from Ekiti South West who attended the meeting included: Hon. Philip Olugbade , LG Party Secretary, Mr Idowu Odeyemi, PDP leader in Ekiti West, Mr Lanre Omolase – Council Chairman, Mr Idowu Akinbode , Local Government Party Chairman, and Mrs Ogunmola Bosede, State ex-officio.
The leaders who represented ISE/ORUN Local Government at the meeting included Mr Niyi Ekundayo, Assistant state public relation officer, Chief Mosu Aguda Ise/Orun, party leader, Hon. Dayo Olokesusi, Hon. Titus Agboola and Hon. Mrs Bose Adesanoye
Fayose had last week directed the people of Ekiti South not to vote for the candidature of Olujimi, urging them to vote Atiku and other PDP candidates. The message was relayed on a state private radio ‘Peoples FM 104.1’ last week.
The party leaders who read their communiqué to the newsmen after about four hours meeting at Ikere PDP secretariat insisted that they have worked and talked to their people on the need to disregard the directive given by the former Governor not to vote for the Senate Minority Leader.
The party leaders said that Fayose’s directive could have adverse effect on Olujimi and the Presidential candidate of the party if obeyed by the people.
They reckoned that the action of the former governor amounted to throwing stones into the house one has built over the years. “When you direct people not to vote for your party’s candidate in an election, what you are doing is simply working for the success of another party. As leaders of our people, we are not comfortable with this directive and we distance ourselves from it.”
The Southern senatorial district party leaders said that they are trying all their possible best to neutralise the directive given by Fayose. They resolved that all machinery have been put in place to disabuse the minds of the people who may have bought the directive hook line and sinker.
They wondered why the national leadership has been unable to wade into the festering crisis and resolve the it before it gets out of hand. “The national leadership of our party ought to have taken the necessary steps to nip the crisis in the bud.
“Why has no action been taken against the person who issued the directive against a fellow member? Does it mean that some people are above the law of the party? We have resolved not to be distracted; we must deliver our senatorial zone for the PDP. We are not bothered; we have resolved that there is no going back on our resolve to deliver the zone to the PDP.
“We are using this medium to call on our people across all the local governments to vote en mass for Atiku, Olujimi and all other PDP candidates during the coming February 16 and March 2 elections”, they said.
