A political group within the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadanland, Concerned Grassroots Political Canvasers (CGPC) has condemned allegations levelled against the I Ibadan North Local Government party Chairman, Prince Seun Adelore, in some section of the online news media few days ago.
Describing the said publication as uncharitable, discouraging, and unwarranted, Leader of the group, Abdullateef Adegbola, in a statement on Tuesday May 17 on behalf of the group cautioned political aspirants jostling for both House of Representatives and State Assembly tickets to ensure the party wins the forthcoming National Assembly election in the federal constituency by shunning all forms of selfish and self centeredness, and setting aside personal interests against party’s overall election victory.
The group explained that Adelore, who is a grassroots politician with many years in active politics understands the Ibadan North political terrain and the need to trim down the large number of aspirants to about two or three aspirants based on their political might and capabilities. It added that it was to that effect that the meeting was held with some party key stakeholders to fashion out a clear path within the party such that will guarantee victory for the PDP in the coming 2023 general election.
“We make bold to say that Adelore’s meeting with key party stakeholders was mainly to ensure that whoever emerge the party’s flagbearers for the 2023 general election either at state assembly level or federal house of representatives level will not only be acceptable to the party but also to the people who will vote”. The group stated.
The group also said that it has on good authority that the main opposition party, particularly the incumbent, has kept an eagle eye on the internal events within the ruling PDP with a view to cash-in on the slightest mistake that may be committed by the leadership of the party urging all stakeholders to be united in force so as to regain the political power come 2023.
The group also alleged that sponsors of the publication which was described as handiwork of mischief makers who are alien to the grassroots politics of Ibadan North are faceless and non existent adding that such action is a clear indication that the ruling party may not be truly ready to regain the federal constituency from the incumbent opposition party afterall.
Going down memory lane since 1999 when democracy just returned to Nigeria, the group recalled that PDP had sway in Ibadan North for only eight years between 2003 – 2011 when the party lost the federal constituency to former federal lawmaker, Abiodun Dada Awoleye while Alliance for Democracy (AD) only held power for 4years (1999–2003).
The group added that what the 2011 election loss to PDP means is that opposition party has taken over reigns of power in the federal constituency for twelve interrupted years since 2011 till date stressing that Ibadan North is particularly different from most federal constituencies in Ibadanland because of the calibre of political gladiators playing their politics in the area calling on all hands to be on deck within the PDP.
Warning against placing parochial sentiments above political might and capabilities, the group urged PDP leadership in the state particularly in Ibadan North to ensure only a candidate with the political wherewithal is fielded to wrestle power from the incumbent lawmaker on the platform of opposition party.
“PDP as a party has lost the Ibadan North federal constituency since 2011. To regain the power back requires all hands to be on deck for e formidable candidate to emerge.
“For instance, some of these aspirants are those who returned from abroad without adequate and deep knowledge of grassroots politicking in Ibadan North. They are oblivious of the political terrain and just want to splash money around to secure party ticket and contest forgetting that it is one thing to get party ticket I is another thing entirely to go into an election to defeat an incumbent.
“We all heard them when they recently featured on a popular Ibadan based radio program. Some of them don’t even know many places in Ibadan North, they don’t even know where some wards are located and the contest for Ibadan North is beyond handing the party ticket to someone who is a new comer without prior political experience with regards to involvement in practical grassroots politicking. If such happens the. It would be a risk taken too far by the ruling PDP.
“Even some of the political aspirants in the federal constituency who are firmly on ground have gone beyond Ibadan North to those they believe would not only get them the ticket but also do the grassroots politicking of Ibadan North to ensure victory for the party come 2023.
“We want to as a seriously concerned group dedicated and committed PDP grassroots politicians and political canvassers appeal to the leadership of the party in the state and Ibadan North federal constituency to as a matter of party’s overall interest ensure that only an experienced and deeply rooted grassroots politician with the political and financial might capable of defeating the incumbent is handed the PDP Federal Representatives ticket because it will be too late for corrections after elections are over.
“Some of the aspirants don’t even know their party delegates let alone know how to go deeply grassroots to canvas for their supports and that of the party hierarchy in Ibadan North but rather, they are playing the politics of ‘omo inu’le’ and those they believe are closer to His Excellency, the Governor, and hoping to be imposed on others. The leadership of our great party, the PDP must be reminded that party affairs is a completely different ball game compared to real election and no gambling must be made with regards to who to fly the PDP ticket in Ibadan North federal constituency in 2023.
“Some of these aspirants are of the believe that the delegates list would be manipulated in their favour and have since been scheming towards this end but again, we must reiterate that the party should do everything to avoid gambling in its selection of who emerges as the PDP House of Representatives candidate in the area because it is always better to win at the polls than going to court after elections are over.
“The same thing applies to the state House of Assembly constituencies I and II. The party must avoid giving members extra hard work in the coming election. Fielding an imposed candidate for the coming election.
