Mr Eddy Olafeso, the immediate past National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in South-West on Sunday said ex-Gov Ayodele Fayose remained a critical voice in the party’s affair in the region.
Olafeso made the clarification in Ado-Ekiti during a meeting with the party’s delegates over his Vice Chairmanship aspiration in the coming zonal Congress of the party.
Olafeso said Fayose towers above other leaders in the zone, judging from his antecedents and contributions to the PDP’s electoral fortunes, saying: “he remains the voice of the PDP in the southwest”.
The former Commissioner in Ondo State added that the leadership tussle between Fayose and Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde was uncalled-for and unwarranted, describing the former Ekiti State governor as a pathfinder and leading light of the PDP in the region.
READ ALSO: Stop Tampering With PDP Leadership In The South West,Fayose Warns Makinde
Olafeso spoke in Ado Ekiti, on Saturday, while meeting with the delegates on his PDP Vice Chairmanship aspiration for the coming Zonal congress of the party.
Addressing the Hon. Bisi Kolawole-led faction of the party and who were predominantly Fayose’s loyalists, Olafeso said: “You can see that all the immediate past zonal executive members are represented here. We are here to thank our leader, Ayodele Fayose for his support.
He(Fayose) is our leader. We believe in him. While others were panicking and fearful to criticize President Muhammadu Buhari, he was with us. He remained the only voice in the wilderness.
“Fayose rescued the PDP from those who wanted to ruin the party when the late Senator Buruji Kashamu took the party to court. It was Fayose as a governor that saved the party from total ruin.
“We are very sure that we will reposition the PDP in this zone. We have visited other five states. No individual can appropriate the PDP in the southwest. Let us continue to support Fayose. We are very sure of victory and unity in the end”.
The Zonal Vice Chairmanship aspirant, said he would initiate a peace process that would bring all the contending forces like: Governor Makinde, former Governor Fayose, Senator Biodun Olujimi , Hon. Ladi Adebutu Kessington and others together in line with the dream of the PDP’s founding fathers.
“We don’t have a major crisis, what we have is disagreement. Some leaders had even begun underground fence mending mission, but peace is a process. We will lead with fairness and justice. We will partner other leaders to ensure we take our rightful position at the national level. We want to really appreciate Fayose and those who believed in fairness and equity.
