The Major Contestants In The Race For PDP National Publicity Secretary

On Saturday May 21, 2016, the garden city of Portharcourt will host delegates from the 36 states and FCT and Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party for the National Convention that is billed to elect new National officers of the party to steer party affairs, and takeover from the outgoing leaders.

A very vital office to be contested for is the office of the National Publicity Secretary, which has been zoned to the South West. The office is said to be strategic because occupant of the office is expected among other things to be the image maker of the party and play important role in the party's rebranding effort. While incumbent and outgoing Publicity Secretary Chief Olisah Metuh assumed the office in 2012 as ruling party's spokesman, the next occupant will face the huge challenge of being the mouthpiece of the leading opposition. A role that would define the party's political fortune or misfortune in 2019 General election depending on the effectiveness of Chief Metuh's successor.

Checks reveals that the office of National Publicity Secretary is hotly contested by three prominent personalities of the party. They are; Comrade Babasola Kuti, known as SK among party youths; Mr Lere Olayinka, simply called 'Lere'; and Comrade Segun Sowunmi. Who are these young men? Who will take the mantle from Chief Metuh?


COMRADE BABASOLA KUTI (LAGOS STATE)
Sola Kuti, a strong member of PDP and proud son of the Yoruba race hails from Lagos state. He is a career builder, motivator, politician and an entrepreneur.

He studied Business information systems with human resource management at the Middlesex University Business School in London, United Kingdom, and graduated with a Second Class Upper through hard work and determination. As a student, he got several commendation and gathered several awards.

Sola Kuti runs a company known as Afriproducts Ltd which he founded in 1999 has pioneered many innovative ideas in the last 16 years. The Compang has Business and technology arms. The business areas include: A Fresh Juice and Smoothie Chain, Luxury goods, Business Development, Consultancy, Telecoms and infrastructure, Oil and Gas, Exports and Trading. The technology arm of Afriproducts in a joint venture pioneered the smaller denomination mobile recharge vouchers in Nigeria and also launched the first ever e - commerce enabled website in Nigeria circa 1999.

Shola's brilliance wasn't only confined in the classroom of Middlesex Business School, in 1999, the UK Nos. 1 Online magazine, Computer World featured his giant stride on their platform(http://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Gateway-to-African-exports). An honor that only the best minds get.

Politically, Sola Kuti is not a newbie outsider. He has served as a Special Assistant to distinguish Senator Tokunbo Ogunbanjo in the Nigeria Senate 2003-2007.

He saw a leadership vacuum in Lagos state and aspired to be governor of Lagos in 2015, and ran an impressive campaign. He also served as Member of PDP Presidential Campaign Council in 2011 and 2015 Presidential elections.

Sola has represented PDP at various forum including multiple appearances on TV defending the ideals of the party and promoting a youthful brand PDP. He is a strong critic of the ruling APC government.

Sola continues to propagate for more young people to participate in politics, and currently mentors young entrepreneurs.

Comrade Sola is highly polished, well connected, a refined gentleman, and is no doubt the best man for the job(if I must add). This is because the job of image making is a serious "business".


MR LERE OLAYINKA (EKITI STATE)
Lere Olayinka, a thorough bred journalist is currently the Special Assistant to Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications and New Media.

Before he was appointed by Governor Fayose, Mr. Olayinka was Mr Lere Olayinka Media Aide to PDP National Vice Chairman (South West) and former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni. His former boss, now a member of the APC did not deter Olayinka’s love for the PDP, as he stayed on and contributed particularly in shaping narratives on social media which saw to the emergence of Gov. Fayose as Governor of the state in 2014.

Olayinka was once allegedly beaten to pulp by security aides to former Governor Kayode Fayemi for a story he posted on Facebook which read: “#Fayemi’s Tipatikuuku Teachers’ Competency Test failed again!#

“For the 4th time, Teachers in Ekiti State defied Gomina Fayemi’s order. No one is writing his Competency Test slated today. I just left Ola-Oluwa Muslim Grammar Sch, Ado-Ekiti, the place is being manned by GUN-WIELDING MOPOL with some teachers “gisting” directly opposite the School. The teachers are also raining curse and abuses on Gomina Fayemi and the ASUSS Chairman, who directed that its members should write the exam as against the NUT directive.” This was in October 2012.

Dating back the pre-2015 election period, Governor Fayose had always broken the super-information highway by his press releases issued through Lere Olayinka, especially those taking critical stance of Buhari.

That the Buhari’s administration has been set on its toes especially in the area of national issues and economic policies, kudos must be given to Lere Olayinka for his very punchy Statements issued on behalf of Governor Fayose.


COMRADE SEGUN SOWUNMI(OGUN STATE)
Mr. Segun Sowunmi is another head fit for the job of the PDP National Publicity Secretary.

Like Sola Kuti and Lere Olayinka, Mr. Segun Sowunmi, has formerly served on appointive position in the PDP. He was former DG, Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation, in Ogun State and a member of the PDP, in the state.

Before this position, he had once served as media aide to ex-Ogun State Governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel.

Sowunmi is a brilliant and thorough bred politician, who critical stances on national issues is worth mentioning.

Sowunmi, for me and other political observers, came to limelight, when he gave the then opposition spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed a run for his money on a political tv show on Channels TV.

I am sure Alhaji Lai Mohammed would never forget that day, as he was found fidgeting when Sowunmi punctured all his arguments on the manner of change the APC was bringing on board at the centre.

With the myriads of fumblings by the ruling party at the centre today, many are now recalling with nostalgia what Sowunmi’s points were on that fateful day.


HOW WINNER WILL EMERGE
PDP Delegates from all 36 States Chapters and FCT Chapter will vote. Candidate with the highest number of vote emerges winner.

I shall post live update on Nairaland, Palmchat, twitter and all SM platf9rms

we need youths(vibrant) in PDP









@modath, who is the SENATE PRESIDENT of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ?

Tokety7:
Shame....... The killer party is finished. Is this the best they could come up with.
Bunch of shameless thieves. Assembleged of fools.

While PDP is advancing with youthful leaders, some APC masquerade leader is convulsing. SMH...


Lalasticlala and Dominique FP pls

Tokety7:
Shame....... The killer party is finished. Is this the best they could come up with.
Bunch of shameless thieves. Assembleged of fools.

lai mohammed son is in the house of assembly, but he had the guts to offer you and your fellow e-rats masquerade jobs you better open your eyes

Chai! see their best candidates that they could came out with... Issorite, finger crossed...

Lere Olayinka will win it, Fayose is the De facto GC of PDP, what he wants, he will get. Dazall..

Lere Olayinka is the best for the job.
APC needs a 'thorn in the flesh' who will really criticise them just as Lai Mohammed did to GEJ.
If PDP had a stubborn Publicity Secretary maybe APC won't be misbehaving as they are doing now.

TANTUMERGO007:

lai mohammed son is in the house of assembly, but he had the guts to offer you and your fellow e-rats masquerade jobs you better open your eyes

wetin this one dey talk?

#istandwithlereolayinka for someone to stand up against the then sitting governor and now much traveled pmb

Wish them the best.

They will remain in opposition for the next 20 years at least

tayebest:



wetin this one dey talk?

it is your right to work with CBN and not dressing of masquerades

They are all young and vibrant base on their profile and antecedents.The best among them should go for the job.

Lere towers above others. He is the best man for the job.

I will prefer Lere Olayinka .
He is a young man with vibrancy filled with media surprises and vibrant critics who will pull some strings and endear quality opposition in the mainstream of our politics .

Even if PDP might not win the General Election, let them give us stiff and quality opposition that will put the ruling party on track

But hope this is not the reason Fayose trade off the chairmanship position proposed for SW to NE so that his candidate (lere) could fit into the position

modath:

Lere Olayinka will win it, Fayose is the De facto GC of PDP, what he wants, he will get. Dazall..

Who dash am? is it by noise? There are delegates from 37 Chapters(Plus FCT) that will elect not just Ekiti delegates.



Sola Kuti will win

modath please answer the question TANTUMERGO007 asked

who's the current Senate president

ShakaZullu:
modath please answer the question TANTUMERGO 007 asked

who's the current Senate president

modath they fear to answer am

[s]

senatorbayor:
I will prefer Lere Olayinka .
He is a young man with vibrancy filled with media surprises and vibrant critics who will pull some strings and endear quality opposition in the mainstream of our politics .

Even if PDP might not win the General Election, let them give us stiff and quality opposition that will put the ruling party on track

[/s]

Nonsense!!! apc is going down by 2019
every body can never be Gej

TANTUMERGO007:

it is your right to work with CBN and not dressing of masquerades

Your right also to work with president not to be masturbating on every thread in Nairaland!

ShakaZullu:

[s]Nonsense!!! apc is going down by 2019 every body can never be Gej[/s]

Boil the country if PDP did not win

Hmmmmm, interesting.

TonyeBarcanista:
Who dash am? is it by noise? There are delegates from 37 Chapters(Plus FCT) that will elect not just Ekiti delegates.



Sola Kuti will win

Who are the backers of other candidates

Note that Fayose's support for Modu may spring the magic for Lere as Modu will ensure delegates from the North vote for Lere . Fayose and Wike seems to be the major strong guys in the PDP govs settings and Wike could assist him to get SS votes as well.

The other 2 candidates wont have base supports cause their states are ruled by opposition and there wont be such codination of dlegates compare to when the state is control by the Gov who is presenting its own candidate as well.

Lagos and Ogun have factions as we speak while Ekiti does not .

These are factors that will work for Lere

TonyeBarcanista:
Who dash am? is it by noise? There are delegates from 37 Chapters(Plus FCT) that will elect not just Ekiti delegates.



Sola Kuti will win

Though I haven't still forgiven you, I still trust your judgement. I join you to support Sola Kuti for the job.

ShakaZullu:
[s][/s]

Nonsense!!! apc is going down by 2019
every body can never be Gej

Na you wan bring am down
When more than half of the PDP members have ditched the party for APC

Teamlereolayinka,he is good with constructive criticism,rugged,fearless nd cannot be esaily intimidated nd also yound,its time for we the youth to take our future into our hand irrespective of party

Mind u apc clowns,how is ur masqurade job faring,hahaha awon ebi elegun gbogbo

Tokety7:


Can u swear with ur seeds that anyone offered me any job. If untrue, may ur seeds cough blood to death. Say amen.

FIXED

tayebest:
Chai! see their best candidates that they could came out with... Issorite, finger crossed...

Lolz. Keep murdering English u hear.

@TonyeBarcanista, PDP needs to rebrand, why is that so difficult to understand?

Please help us tyell those at the top.

They need to change party name, logo and all that.

TonyeBarcanista:
Who dash am? is it by noise? There are delegates from 37 Chapters(Plus FCT) that will elect not just Ekiti delegates.



Sola Kuti will win

Thanks for this and I hope you will always have this in mind whenever you can't resist that urge to make sweeping remarks/analysis about SW!!!


Senatorbayor. On point.. TonyeBarcanista "analyses" from the stand point of his heart's desire, never ever from reality...

21st is just 15 days from today, God will keep us all hale and hearty....