• Adeniran: I’m ready for the convention
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja and Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Former governor of Oyo State, Senator
Rashidi Ladoja, has declared he has not backed out of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) national chairmanship race.
He spoke through his media aide, Lanre Latinwo, yesterday, against the backdrop of reports that he has withdrawn from the race.
Ladojo contended that the reports were
masterminded by some aspirants who were uncomfortable and jittery of his
candidature’s national acceptance; as the right man for the job.
“We are not surprised this is coming from
them. Momentum is building very rapidly for the convention and many
more of this kind of fabricated story will be dished out by losing
groups and aspirants. Senator Ladoja has weighed all options before
throwing his hat into the ring. As a former Board of Trustees (BoT)
member, he knows the ideals upon which the party was built and will
restore those ideals, when elected. In national politics, Ladoja is well
known for his principled stand against unfairness.
“As national chairman of the PDP, Wadata
Plaza will not be turned into a casino where money will exchange hands
and democracy and people’s will be discarded.
“This is why well-meaning leaders and
members are clamouring for his emergence as the man to lead the party to
a glorious restoration, at this critical period.”
Also, former minister of Education,
Professor Tunde Adeniran declared he is ready for the party’s national
convention scheduled for tomorrow.
Adeniran, who is also in contention for
the national chairmanship position said this when he spoke with newsmen
in Abuja, yesterday.
Speaking through the Director General of
his campaign organisation, Shehu Gabam, Adeniran expressed satisfaction
with the party’s response to his petitions.
Besides, Adeniran said he is also
satisfied with assurances given by the Convention Planning Committee
Chairman, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, of Delta State, that the event will be
transparent.
“We raised series of issues in the past. But, the leadership of the party has demonstrated capacity.
“Most of the issues we raised were
addressed, whether they were 100 percent or not, they have allayed those
fears and we are grateful. We don’t have much to complain about. Most
issues have been taken care of. We raised issues on the chairmanship of
the electoral committee and the party responded…(On) other issues,
nature will tidy them up.”