S/West PDP endorses Jonathan for second term

By CHARLES KUMOLU

LAGOS — THE South West Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office, noting that he is constitutionally entitled to seek re-election.

It also appointed former President Olusegun Obasanjo as grand patron of theparty in the zone, even as it constituted a stakeholders’ council under theChairmanship of Senator Lekan Balogun.

Disclosing these, yesterday, in Lagos at The South West Stakeholders’ Forum,the party passed a vote of confidence in its National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur  and National Working Committee, NWC.

Those at the event include: Senator Seye Ogunlewe, Chief Ishola Filani, Chief Ayo Fayose,  Senator  Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, Mrs. Mobolaji Osomo, Alhaja Salmat Badru, Chief Tayo Dairo, Mrs. Aduke Maina, Dr. Olu Alabi, among others.

President Goodluck Jonathan with Ondo State PDP candidate Chief Olusola Oke during PDP’s Gubernatorial rally in Akure. Photo: State House.

A communique issued at the end of the forum, said, ‘’after carefully X-rayingthe leadership qualities and transformation efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan and in view of the fact that he is constitutionally qualified to seek re-election, the Forum hereby unanimously endorses him for a second term in 2015

‘’The Forum hereby unanimously passes a vote of confidence in theTransformation Agenda of Mr. President, the leadership roles of the National Chairman, the National Working Committee ,NWC, the Zonal Caretaker Committee and the State Executive Committees in the Southwest.’’

It further said, ‘’the Forum hereby resolves to henceforth work as a united entity for the success of the party in all the forthcoming elections in Nigeria, commencing from 2014 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states to thepresidential and other elections in 2015.

“The Forum appreciates the appointments made so far in the Southwest by Mr. President but pleaded that further appointments be routed through theparty.

‘’The Southwest PDP appreciates the support of Mr. President, National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) infostering peace and unity in our party in the Southwest.

“The Forum commends the President on the measures so far taken in combating the current security challenges in the country.   The Forum hereby approves the setting up of PDP Southwest  Stakeholders’ Council under Senator Lekan Balogun.’’

Earlier the Zonal Caretaker Committee Chairman, Filani, said the newly constituted council would be a major player in the party’s march towards regaining power in the zone.

‘’Since the inauguration of the caretaker committee, it has identified thechallenges facing the party in the zone, we also worked hard to identify the areas of conflict in the different state chapters.

“Towards this end, we have sent visitation panels to all the six states of the zone and I am happy to say that not only have all the reports been submitted, a review panel has worked on them and submitted its report.

“We are now set to implement recommendations. I am confident that when implemented, our party will witness the re-birth which we badly need,’’ he noted.

In addition, he said, ‘’One of the ways of actualising our objective is to create appropriate organs which would assist the zonal committee to do its work more effectively.

“Towards this end, the Southwest PDP Stakeholders’ Forum, which we are inaugurating today, will be a major player in the party’s match towards regaining power in the zone, particularly, as we approach the governorship elections in  Ekiti and Osun states’’