A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has said the party has been losing elections in Lagos due to manipulation by saboteurs in the party.
He said some of their members would claim to be working for the party but at the same time getting contracts from the APC-led government, assuring that the party is ready to weed them out.
George spoke Thursday when he received the campaign train of Ambassador, Taofeek Arapaja, the South-West zonal chairmanship aspirant backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
The PDP leader said the party has learnt its lessons from previous elections and vowed that it would not repeat the same mistake in the 2023 election, stressing that the party was ready to win Lagos State.
He said with the money Lagos State controls, the problem of youth unemployment should have been a thing of the past.
“The real problem of the PDP in Lagos is that some people will claim they are working for the PDP and they are still getting contracts from the government. Those people are still in PDP. God Almighty will descend on them.
“Our eyes are wide open. Someone even took our ticket, collected the money and did not mobilize members of the party in his ward,” he said.
Ahead of the zonal congresses of the party which is causing disagreement in the zone with former Governor Ayo Fayose backing Dr. Eddy Olafeso, George stressed the need for unity in the party.
He also charged members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to show commitment to the ideals of the founding fathers by allowing the provision of the party’s constitution to prevail in their actions.
The PDP leader said while he was not against the comeback bid of Olafeso, it was a proper thing to allow another state produce the zonal chairman.
Turning to Arapaja, he advised him to let the constitution of the party be his guide “like a constant northern star” if elected.
“Respect it . Adhere to its basic tenets and values with principled devotion. Never deviate from this grundnorm. That is your steering rudder to the redemptive light.
“You must be fair and just in all your undertakings. Let your decisions bear the collective input of your team.
“Always allow the redeeming precedents of old to sharpen your bearing, to strengthen your vision, to give fillip to your commitments and your mission.
“You must be totally resolved, stern, immovable about the principle of non-interference of external forces in the affairs of the Southwest,” he said.
Responding, Arapaja said one of his missions is to deliver Lagos for PDP in the 2023 election, which he said was possible with sacrifices from all members of the party.
“It demands a lot of sacrifice to win Lagos and this would be one of our biggest legacies. I know it will not be easy but in your lifetime, Lagos state will be won by PDP,” he told Bode George.
Arapaja, a former Oyo State Deputy Governor also promised to unite “genuine” members of the party if elected as the National Vice-Chairman (South-West).
Bode George later unveiled members of the party nominated from Lagos into the zonal offices allocated to the state. They included Alhaji Raimi Owokoniran (Zonal Secretary); Dr. Adegbola Dominic (Zonal Auditor) and Mrs. Tanwa Olokodana (Ex-Officio).
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