Fayose, Mimiko, Kashamu reconcile PDP factions in three S’West states

The warring factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Osun and Oyo states in the South-West were over the weekend reconciled by governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State as well as the senator representing Ogun East senatorial district, Prince Buruji Kashamu. The truce, which was brokered to harmonise the zone’s delegates to the party’s forthcoming National Convention billed for next month in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was, however, silent on the tussles for chairmanship positions in the three states. Briefing newsmen at the end of the closed-door parley with the states, Governor Fayose said the reconciliation was necessary in order for the South-West to have a united front at the convention. The governor said the meeting is to ensure that PDP leaders in the three states agree on the delegates for the National Convention, noting that they have earlier met with leaders of the Ogun State PDP in Abuja. Fayose, who said the meeting was successful, said: “We have encouraged that they (factions) should come together to have one list for the convention’s delegates. The list must not come from a group and where they do not have groups, all leaders must sit together to come up with a list so that they can have their names in the convention brochure, which is not an everyday affair. So, we are happy that we have made considerable progress.” Asked on the quest of the South-West PDP to produce the next National Chairman of the party, the Ekiti State governor said the position is not zoned to any particular zone in the South, which makes every party chieftain from any of the three zones in the South eligible to contest for the position. However, he said if there is National Chairmanship candidate from the South West, he would support that candidate. “Do not forget that when something is zoned to the South or North, it does not represent the interest of a particular zone. One thing is that if I have someone from the South West, he will have my support because I am from the South West but if if it is zoned to the South, you cannot stop others from participating, that is the truth. The moment it is not localised in the South West, others will have to take the shot at it,”Fayose stated. Former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe from Lagos and Senator Teslim Folarin from Oyo State in separate interviews, said the meeting was successful, stating that the party leaders in their states will work together to produce delegates list for the National Convention. The duo said the party in the South West recognises Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the National Chairman of the party. Folarin said: “We have been able to resolve our differences with the aim of working together as a team in the forthcoming congress and to reposition the party for the 2019 elections. The purpose of this meeting is to ratify all positions in the party. There is no more faction in Oyo PDP. Oyo PDP recognises the Makarfi led PDP just as Senator Alli Modu Sheriff is a leader of the party.