On Friday, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State urged the Special Reconciliation Committee of the Southwest People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure it speaks truth to power in the course of its assignment.
Makinde, who received the Barrister Eyitayo Jegede-led Committee at the Conference Room of the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan, said the team, saddled with resolving the crisis in the Lagos and Osun State branches of the party, should be ready to apportion blames where necessary.
While promising to give the Committee all the needed support to have a hitch-free assignment.
The governor asserted it was necessary to resolve the crisis in the two branches to ensure the party goes into the next elections a united force.
He said the committee needed to do its utmost to reconcile all aspirants in the just concluded State Congress and Governorship Primary, respectively, in the two states.
Makinde stated: “One thing I will also advise is, don’t be afraid to speak truth to power.
“The NWC put this committee together, and if you think they have done more harm to the party’s unity in some of these states, don’t be afraid to let them know so they can make the amendments.
“And if, on the other hand, you feel any other person (including me) has influenced things out there without having the correct situation of things on the ground, let us know.
“If we cannot gain the confidence of Nigerians so much that we cannot put our house in order, you will see apathy in the forthcoming elections.
“They will stay at home. So, we have quite a bit to show Nigerians that we can unite and bridge the trust gap between the ordinary people and our party.
“So, we look forward to more governors being produced by the PDP from the southwest zone,” he concluded.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Special Reconciliation Committee, Barrister Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, said the committee’s mandate was to end all rifts and disagreements with the fold of the party in the region, especially in Lagos and Osun states.
He pledged the sincerity of his members, who, he said, are men of integrity and assured the governor that the committee would do a thorough job and make sure true reconciliation of all warring factions is achieved.
Eyitayo noted: “We believe the people are waiting for the PDP government at the federal level and in our respective states, and part of our efforts is to make this dream come to fruition.
“We, on our part, are going for the assignment with a spotless heart.
“We are going to work assiduously to ensure that our people work together, and that is why we are taking these pre-emptive steps to ensure there is no division within the family of the PDP.
“This assignment will require your support and input so that our members can look forward to the objective of getting to the Government Houses in Osun and Lagos and some other states.
“God helping us, PDP is back on a rescue mission, and some of us look at the leadership of our governors like you in this zone. We hope that the PDP will come to Nigeria at the centre and the South West,” the chairman added.
The Committee had earlier had its inaugural meeting at the Southwest Zonal Office of the party, located in Ibadan, with the Zonal Working Committee members in attendance.
Those at the Inaugural Meeting include its Chairman, Barrister Eyitayo Jegede; Secretary, Hon. Kayode Adaramodu; National Vice Chairman, Southwest, Hon. Olasoji Adagunodo; Hon. Rahman Owokoniran, Zonal Secretary, Southwest; Barrister Monsuru Kukoyi, Zonal Legal Adviser and another committee member, who is the immediate past PDP Chairman in Oyo State, Hon. Kunmi Mustapha, as well as the Ondo State PDP Chairman, Hon. Fatai Adams.
E/Suzan O.