Ondo Guber poll: PDP inaugurates National Campaign Organisation for Jimoh Ibrahim •Ibrahim’s victory’ll end godfatherism in PDP

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu
Sheriff, said plans have been concluded to inaugurate a national campaign organisation for Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim for the Ondo State governorship poll.

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Friday authenticated Ibrahim as the PDP flag bearer in the election.

Sheriff disclosed this in a statement signed by the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Dr Cairo Onougboh, even as he affirmed that the peace process in the party was irreversible.

He said: “We also irrevocably state that the peace process initiated by Sheriff and Makarfi is irreversible.

“Therefore, every peace loving members in PDP should key into the process and pray that the outcome will be a success to usher in PDP into governance in 2019.

“Henceforth, members of the party are cautioned not to make statements that will escalate the crisis in the party.”
Sheriff declared that PDP is a law abiding party that believe in the rule of law.

He said: “We state categorically state that the court judgment affirming Jimoh Ibrahim as the candidate of PDP is a victory for democracy and instrument to affirm the believe in the separation of power between the executive, legislature and the judiciary.

“The National Working Committee, NWC, has concluded plans to inaugurate a national campaign organisation for Jimoh Ibrahim in Ondo State governorship election.

“The PDP national chairman in the light of the firm resolve for stronger unity and peace in the PDP, has called on the teeming members of the party in Ondo State and beyond to close ranks and cooperate with Ibrahim to ensure that PDP wins the forthcoming governorship poll in the state.

Meanwhile, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the November 26 governorship election, Rotimi Akeredolu, yesterday hailed the authentication of Barrister Ibrahim as the candidate of the PDP.

In a statement by the Chairman, Research and Communication, Team Aketi 2017, Akeredolu said Ibrahim’s victory would end godfatherism in the state PDP.

The statement said: “Last Friday, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja gave a judgement removing the name of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, as the candidate of PDP in the governorship election scheduled to take place on November 26, 2016.

“It substituted it with the name of Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim as the authentic, legal and bonafide flagbearer of the party.

“While it is not in our place to dabble into the technicalities or implications of the judgment for the embattled PDP, we view the judgment as a victory for common sense and fortitude.

“We also wish to stress that by this judgement of Justice Okon Abang, the judiciary has outrightly saved Ondo State, particularly the few good people in PDP, from the arrogance of impunity and tragedy of godfatherism.

“The road to perdition for the amorphous ambition of Jegede was well paved by the incredibly indecent and disrespectful process which installed him as the flagbearer of a faction of the PDP.

“Now that the court has spoken, we feel justified in our consistent position that Jegede was nothing but a stooge smuggled upon the stool of candidacy by a desperate godfather seeking a third term through the back door.

“We are also happy that finally the dribbler has now dribbled himself to a damning corner.

“It is unfortunate that a highly regarded authority in Law of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede standing, can present himself to be embarrassed over a small matter where common sense is king.

“This judgement should teach both the godfather and godson a big lesson that democracy detests duplicity, arrogance and artifice and that the people’s voice remains supreme because there lies the voice of God.

“Now that the bat has been separated from the bird in the embattled PDP, our party’s candidate Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, welcomes his late coming younger colleague Jimoh Ibrahim to this governorship race meant only for men of integrity and character.

“Akeredolu wishes him well as he finds his feet in a dance that is almost over.”

In another development, National President of Egbe Omo Oodua, an umbrella body of Yoruba community in the 19 northern states and Abuja, Chief Toye Ogunsuyi has declared that for the state to move forward, it must get its leadership right at this time.

Speaking with journalists in Jos at the weekend, Ogunsuyi ,who is an indigene of Ondo State said: “Our strength and hope as a state lies in our ability to get the right leadership during the forthcoming election.

“As we move nearer to the poll, I have only one appeal to make; that all eligible voters should consider the future of their state and rally round a credible candidate who is ready to provide leadership for our people.

“I see a new Ondo bustling with unity and prosperity. Let us put all sentiments aside and pursue this goal collectively for the good of all.”

The octogenarian, who had been in politics since the first republic said that the recent Federal High Court judgment which declared Barrister Ibrahim as the rightful PDP candidate for the election has given members of the association hope that Ondo State is headed for the right leadership soon.

He stressed that the association has been monitoring developments in the state, including those aspiring to succeed Governor Mimiko and was convinced that Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim stands the best candidate to lead the state to greater height.

“We believe that he has what it takes to rebuild the state
“We are tired of those who would first run to their village and forget the rest after becoming governor.

“We want all the people to come home and build Ondo. We are not saying that the present governor did nothing, but his best needs improvement. Ondo needs leadership. We want Ondo to be developed.

“We used to have Action Group during Awolowo and we want the state to return to that era.”