By Olanrewaju Adesanya
Ahead of the council poll in Lagos State scheduled to hold July 24th, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State have reconciled and set templates to emerge victorious in the said election.
Stakeholders in the party took turns to chart a new course for the party at an assembly of wards and council structures, that includes Ajeromi LGA and Ifelodun LCDA.
Charging the hitherto aggrieved elements, to sheathe their sword and forge ahead together for a better PDP, the LGA Chairman of the party Elder Mathew Abogunde disclosed that it is hightime past misgivings are buried to birth a new winning squad.
Abogunde maintained that in time past, at no time did PDP ever lose Ajeromi via vote cast, but by clear cut manipulations orchestrated by APC.
The party chairman in the locality made these points known, while officially unveiling the party’s flag bearers and preferred candidates for the coming local government election in Lagos on Tuesday.
Abogunde hinted that members had, in line with former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki led reconciliatory committee’s counsel, embarked on a reconciliation drive across all the wards and local council structure.
He added that the committee had come to the state, adding that they had met with the party leaders and aggrieved members in Lagos state and they had agreed to work together in the interest of PDP.
“We have gathered today to reconcile our differences so we can win the election because if we don’t come together, it will be difficult to defeat our opponents in the forthcoming election.
“This gathering today also signifies that we are one as you know that the umbrella is big enough to accommodate everyone including the new members and aggrieved ones that have been reconciled with the party,” he said.
Abogunde urged the electorate to stand by their rights and not to be afraid to defend their votes at the polling booth.
He advised party candidates to embark on aggressive house to house campaign to tell the electorate that they could do it better in terms of providing good governance to the people of the area.
“We advise electorates not to be discouraged by the present economic situation and come out en mass to elect their leaders into the local government areas of the state.”
He said PDP is optimistic that it would emerge victorious in the forthcoming local government election in the state.
A party leader, Elder Isreal Ogunrinde said the gathering was to bring aggrieved members together because the party had been divided since 2017 during its congress.
Ogunrinde said it was unfortunate that everybody went on their way, however, they were thankful to God that those members had choosen to follow the path of unity in the interest of the party.
The party’s Chairmanship Candidate, Ajeromi Local Council Development Area, Mr Tajudeen Balogun said if he emerged as winner, he would bring meaningful grassroots development to the people of the area.
Balogun said he would improve on the Internally Generated Revenue of the council to fix some bad roads and also focus on improved health care system at the local government health centres.
Another party leader, Chief Francis Chima aka OMOBARCA advised the electorate to make effective change that would bring good governance to the grassroots.
Chima said good governance is in the hands of the people because once they allowed the wrong people to lead them, it would bring bad governance to the area.