Some weeks ago, the National Working Committee of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, approved and announced the rescheduling of its zonal congresses for Southwest, Northwest and Northcentral geopolitical zones to be held on Saturday, April 10, 2021 in Ibadan, Kaduna and Makurdi respectively.

While stakeholders from the southwest zone led by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state expressed satisfaction with the date and venue, and assured of a smooth event, a former Ekiti state governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose, and his loyalists rejected the choice for Ibadan venue.

Although Governor Makinde, who is the undisputable leader of the party in the zone, assured every stakeholders of their safety, those of the Fayose camp argued that their security will not be guaranteed in Ibadan, demanding shift of venue to Abeokuta, Ogun state.

In the evening of Wednesday, April 7, 2021, the PDP's National Working Committee appointed a delegation that include the party's national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, the party's deputy national chairman, the national secretary, Senator Ahmed Tsauri and Bukola Saraki led Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, to meet with the both chieftains on Thursday (today)

At the meeting that was held in Abuja, Ayo Fayose reiterated his opposition to Ibadan venue, he cited an incident where he was assaulted in Akure, Ondo state at a campaign rally in 2020. He prayed that the party rescinds its decision for Ibadan, and proposed Abeokuta (Ogun state) instead.

After his narration, a Governor from one of the northeastern states pleaded with Governor Makinde to concede change of venue from Ibadan to another location other than Abeokuta.

Governor Makinde, who expressed commitment to the unity of the party in the zone, conceded to the demand for the venue to be moved away from Ibadan. He proposed Lagos state as the new venue for the congress but Fayose still disagreed, saying that Lagos is equally unsafe for him and his supporters.

In order to find common ground, a senior leader of the party proposed Osogbo, the capital of Osun state, where the chairman of southwest reconciliation committee and former governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, hails from; this proposal was agreed by Governor Makinde, who further reiterated his resolve to see a united southwest PDP as the leader of the zone.

After the agreement was reached and to avoid any legal trap, the party decided to shift the date of the congress to Monday, April 12, 2021 in order to properly notify INEC as prescribed by the electoral act.

It is therefore uninformed for anyone to attribute the change in venue from Ibadan to Osogbo to defeat of Governor Makinde. Instead, it was a victory for the Governor, PDP stakeholders and for the progress of the party in southwest geopolitical zone.

Tonye Barcanista writes from Abuja

we dey watch

Makinde behave yourself abeg.We need young vibrant politicians that will carry on after this old cargo generation. Barcanista long time!

Op, it's like you have been paid by some people to come here and lie to people. The Internet never forgets o.

Sakamaje:
Op, it's like you have been paid by some people to come here and lie to people. The Internet never forgets o.

Did you see the dates? Or you just read headlines and stay satisfied? Can you comprehend?

Racoon:
Makinde behave yourself abeg.We need young vibrant politicians that will carry on after this old cargo generation. Barcanista long time!

Makinde is doing well... Although the roforofo is unfortunate because Makinde will continue to be PDP leader in SW, I believe that the issue at hand is a family matter that would be resolved at the appropriate time. Those abusing Makinde should focus their energy on APC.


Long time my brother, I de come the forum but na lowkey

Lol...

TonyeBarcanista:
Did you see the dates? Or you just read headlines and stay satisfied? Can you comprehend?

Tonye, carry your sakamaje comot for here. Your hatchet job to launder Makinde's image after he had been threatening fire and brimstone/changed should the election and venue be postponed is dead on arrival. You think say you wise abi? Fact remains that Makinde is all talk and no action, that's why Fayose can run rings around him in SW PDP. You people should stop trying to deceive us.

Sakamaje:


Tonye, carry your sakamaje comot for here. Your hatchet job to launder Makinde's image after he had been threatening fire and brimstone/changed should the election and venue be postponed is dead on arrival. You think say you wise abi? Fact remains that Makinde is all talk and no action, that's why Fayose can run rings around him in SW PDP. You people should stop trying to deceive us.

I won't blame you because of your ignorance...

Makinde was not the one that fixed Ibadan, it was NWC. Makinde insisted that the decision of NWC is sacred, Fayose opposed, saying it be held in Abeokuta. The party met both chieftains, Makinde, a man of peace, decided that if the impediment is Ibadan location, he is ready to shift ground to another location, he proposed Lagos, but Fayose disagreed saying Abeokuta. Later Osogbo was decided, it needed Makinde's approval which he gave.

Do you think Makinde is the typical politician that always believe on his way or the highway? Sorry

TonyeBarcanista:

I won't blame you because of your ignorance...

Makinde was not the one that fixed Ibadan, it was NWC. Makinde insisted that the decision of NWC is sacred, Fayose opposed, saying it be held in Abeokuta. The party met both chieftains, Makinde, a man of peace, decided that if the impediment is Ibadan location, he is ready to shift ground to another location, he proposed Lagos, but Fayose disagreed saying Abeokuta. Later Osogbo was decided, it needed Makinde's approval which he gave.

Do you think Makinde is the typical politician that always believe on his way or the highway? Sorry

Na so. How much were you paid this time around?

Sakamaje:


Na so. How much were you paid this time around?

problem with people like you is that you do more of trolling and less of engaging

TonyeBarcanista:
problem with people like you is that you do more of trolling and less of engaging

Answer how much you were paid to launder Seyi's image on nairaland.

bobowaja:

Answer how much you were paid to launder Seyi's image on nairaland.

It's a PDP affair