The Oluyole chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has declared as a show of strength and confidence its readiness for future electoral battles in the state.
The LG chapter of the ruling party in the state also declared that Oluyole remains a PDP zone and it is unwilling to yield the council to any opposition party in the near future.
The party made this boast during the week at an expanded stakeholders meeting held in Idi-Ayunre Council Secretariat office, Ibadan.
The meeting brought together key members, party leaders, and stakeholders from across all the 10 Wards in Oluyole LG including a two term House of Representatives member, two former commissioners, former and present state House of Assembly members, two former executive chairmen and a vice chairman of the council, Leader of the Council’s Legislative Parliament and all 10 Councilors, as well as the party leadership in the Council and across the 10 wards.
The meeting, hosted by the Executive Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Akeem Olatunji within the first 60 days in office after his swearing in, has been described as the first of its kind in a very long time and a good start for such new administration.
The highest ranking political office holder and two term member of the federal House of Representatives in Oluyole, Hon. Depo Oyedokun stated in his brief remarks while speaking to newsmen that the expanded stakeholders meeting they held was the first of its kind in a very long while.
He expressed his excitement at the announcement made by Engr. Olatunji during the meeting that a quarterly convergence of the expanded stakeholders would hold henceforth.
He welcomed the proposed quarterly meeting by Olatunji as a politically sound and strategic move to entrench party cohesion and strength ahead of future elections.
“If anybody says or thinks PDP is not united in Oluyole, that would be the joke of the year. You can see the assemblage of people here now, from all the wards, all the leaders are here today so, PDP is strongly united, and I mean very strongly united, we’re even now more united than we were before.
“What this meeting portends for us is strength, the chairman has started very well because we’ve never had it like this before and the chairman has said an expanded leadership of the party will be meeting once quarterly to bring cohesion into the party which will bring a sense of belonging to everyone.” Hon. Oyedokun said.
The PDP chairman in Oluyole, Alhaji Mukail Adegbola lauded Olatunji’s initiative over his call for the expanded stakeholders meeting which he said was long overdue stating that it is a welcome development that must be sustained in the spirit of unity and strength within the party while boasting that PDP has become more formidable in the local government to go into any election at any given time with assurances of landslide victory.
Olatunji’s predecessor, Hon. Olaide Settle expressed enthusiasm at the development, describing it as a good start while suggesting that the leadership of the party should endeavor to extend a hand of friendship to other key stakeholders not present at the meeting in order to further fortify the party ahead of future elections.
The primary agenda of the gathering were to address some salient internal issues bothering on party cohesion and unity, and to assess the party’s readiness for future electoral contests in the state, particularly focusing on the strength of the party at the local government.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Olatunji, who appreciated the party leaders and stalwarts for their presence at the meeting said, his assignment as the council chairman was simple, noting that he intends to replicate Makinde’s all inclusive style of governance where nobody is left behind at the grassroots.
He emphasized the party’s commitment to unity, inclusivity, and strategic planning stressing the importance of mobilizing grassroots support and maintaining a robust communication strategy within the party hierarchy to effectively engage with the people.
“We are more than prepared to face any election that comes our way, our strength lies in our unity and our dedication to the principles of the PDP and our overall leader and father, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde.
Together, we will continue to uphold our values and work tirelessly for the growth of our great party. This meeting can be better described as the powerhouse of PDP in the entire council and you can see that having all these respected leaders under one roof in unity means Oluyole is securely under lockdown for PDP.
Others who spoke to journalists after the meeting commended Olatunji for the step taken and his approach to governance while stressing the need for consistency in the approach, inclusivity, and party cohesion.
Present at the expanded stakeholders meeting are former Commissioners for Environment; Hon Jide Adewale, Industries; Engr Ayuba Balogun, Lands and Housing; Barrister Abiodun AbduRaheem AbdulRahman, Chairman of Education Trust Fund,
former and present State House of Assembly members, Hon Luku Salau and Hon. Waheed Akintayo.
Others are the Executive Chairman of Oyo Pacesetters Transport Company, Dikko Salami, executive Chairman of RUWASSA, Alhaji Babalola Afobaje, Special Assistant to the Governor on Oluyole federal constituency, Olumide Akinlade, Vice Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Hon Niyi Akorede, former executive chairman of the Council, Hon. Kehinde Abore, immediate past Vice Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Hon Tunde Ayoade, and all 10 Wards Chairmen.