Fayose says: ‘We’ve won together’
By Banji Ayoola
Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Southwest and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has declared that the successful completion of the party’s congress in the zone signals off the process of rebuilding the party.
He spoke following the Southwest zonal congress of the party, which held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Monday.
His candidate at the congress, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, polled 343 votes to defeat Dr Eddy Olafeso, ex-Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose’s candidate, who scored 330 votes, to emerge as new National Vice Chairman (Southwest).
While describing the congress as peaceful and orderly via a post on his twitter handle, the Governor congratulated the party’s new National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja.
He tweeted:“Congratulations to Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja and other officials duly elected today. Our task of repositioning the @OfficialPDPNig begins now.
“I thank every participant as well as the organising committee of the PDP South-West Congress for a peaceful and orderly congress.”
On his own, Fayose also pledged to work towards rebuilding the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP into a formidable party ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
He said he accepted the outcome of the congress in the overall interest of the party.
Fayose, who had said he would accept the outcome of the election in a series of tweets late Monday night, added: “Like I said in my speech at the beginning of the congress that we should win together and we have indeed won together.
“Whatever may be our reservations on the issue of over-voting, we have chosen to look at the larger picture, which is the PDP.
“We must, therefore, use our energy and resources to rebuild the party.
“Arapaja’s 343 and Olafeso’s 330 votes, has (sic) simply shown strength on the two sides. This should be explored by the party, going forward.
“I thank the National Working Committee (NWC) for helping to bring this congress behind us.”
They both stated this in their opening speeches during the PDP South-West Congress on Monday in Osogbo.
Arapaja and Olafeso’s bid had caused a sharp disagreement between Makinde and Fayose, the situation which made the party shift the venue and date of the congress from Ibadan to Osogbo.
But earlier, Makinde and Fayose had promised to accept whoever emerged as the Southwest PDP Chairman.
Makinde had described the congress as a family affair and also an attempt to reposition the PDP in the South-West.
His words: “This election is a family affair and also an attempt to reposition the PDP in the South-West and the outcome will have implications for our party at the national level.
“We don’t want to defeat ourselves but rather we want to defeat the opposition.
“At the end of the election, there will be no victor nor vanquished.
“As the only PDP governor in the south-West, I will work with anyone who emerges as the chairman in the zone and I will work with the team to reposition our party,’’ Makinde said.
On his part, Fayose had said the issue of the congress was circumstantial, adding that “Makinde is our leader.’’
He also said that he would accept the outcome of the election, but appealed to his supporters and those of Makinde to sheathe their swords.
“The issue of this congress is circumstantial. Makinde is our leader in the South-West.
“Our supporters should stop putting division between us. Seyi and I are one. Nobody has offended me and if I have offended anyone, please forgive me.
“If Arapaja wins, I will be the first to greet him in Ibadan because nothing lasts forever,’’ Fayose said.
