Former minister of sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, has joined the race for the national chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of its forthcoming national convention, pledging to bring back defected members.
Adedoja disclosed this on Thursday in Ibadan when he visited the state PDP Secretariat, Molete, to brief the party leaders of his intention to run for the position.
He officially declared his intention in the presence of the state PDP Chairman, Alhaji Olayinka Taiwo; former minister of mines and power, Elder Wole Oyelese; and former minister of state for agriculture, Alhaji Najeemdeen Awodele from Ogun State.
Former senate leader, Sen. Teslim Folarin; former speakers of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Asimiyu Alarape and Moroof Atilola; the state PRO, Mr. Kehinde Salawu, and a host of others, were also in attendance.
The former minister of special duties assured that he would bring his wealth of experience to bear in the discharge of his duties if elected.
“I can assure you that my emergence would bring back all the founding fathers, leaders and members that have defected to other parties in 24 hours. I am also sure that 80 percent of those in other parties would have returned fully to the PDP in six months after my emergence,’’ he said.
He told the chieftains of the party that he was a leader and a rallying point that was still under-utilised by the party.
Adedoja, who promised to be the symbol of unity, fairness, equity, justice, progress and development which the PDP stood for, assured that under his leadership, women and youths would no more be used for campaign and rallies or as cheer leaders only to be dumped by politicians after winning elections.
He added that women and youths would be adequately compensated by the party before, during and after the elections.
“I will bring my experience to bear in the discharge of my duties when elected national chairman, particularly my handshake across the Niger as a well-blended South Westerner, who speaks the mind and language of the North.
“My life experience in Abraka, then Bendel State, now Delta and Edo (South South Zone), have provided me with a better perspective of the political realities.
“Having been part of the emergence and activities of the party thus far, I believe it is high time the party was repositioned via rebranding, genuine reconciliation. Such would cater for individuals and interest groups within the party’s fold and reinvigorate the entire system.
“It is of utmost significance to say the least for effective image laundering for the party to regain its lost glory,” the former minister said.
He said that it was a well-known fact that reconciliation within the party had been difficult because the supposed rallying point were architects of the smouldering flame.
Adedoja said that recent movement and defections from PDP as experienced before, during and after the 2015 general elections would have been arrested if resonating divergent voices were not neglected.
