By Henry Odeh
The long standing political battle between some aggrieved leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state and Governor Seyi Makinde may have reached its end as the PDP National Reconciliation Committee led by former Kwara state governor who was also ex President of the Senate, Abubakar Bukola Saraki appears to have finally united the two warring factions.
The two warring factions at the end of the reconciliation meeting have agreed to address the lingering issues causing disaffection among members of PDP in the state.
Sunrisebulletin.com gathered that the political battle between the two groups took a different dimension last month when the aggrieved PDP leaders allegedly secured another state Party Secretariat at Bodija, Ibadan.
Some of the aggrieved PDP members in the state include former Majority Leader of the Federal House of Representatives, Mulikat Adeola Akande, Bisi Olopoeyan, Hazeem Gbolarumi, Femi Babalola, Nureni Akanbi, and other members.
A credible inside source who does not want his name mentioned at the reconciliation meeting held at the Agodi Government House on Tuesday August 3, told sunrisebulletin.com that the meeting was a huge success.
The source said that after the Saraki led reconciliation committee listened to the submission of the aggrieved PDP leaders appealed to Governor Makinde to sit with the aggrieved members with the aim of listening to address their grievances.
The source stated further that Saraki expressed confidence in the Governor Makinde’s political will to arrest the lingering political crisis within the party in the state.
According to the source, the aggrieved PDP members in their submission admitted that they have no grievances with the party but Governor Makinde.
Stating their grievances according to the source the aggrieved members complained of being sidelined and neglected in the scheme of things in the state.
They lamented that they were not patronized by Governor Seyi Makinde as party key stakeholders in terms of appointments and other government opportunities which infuriated them leading to the lingering political battle that subsisted all along.
The source noted that all the complains of the aggrieved members centered around being recognized by Governor Seyi Makinde adding that nobody faulted the governor in terms of performance.
Governor Makinde in his response assured the National Reconciliation Committee that he will look into their grievances with the aim of addressing them.
As at the time of filing this report, no official statement with regards to the outcome of the meeting has been issued by either the state government or Oyo state PDP.
Addressing the Governor’s office Correspondents shortly after the meeting, Chairman of the reconciliation committee, Bukola Saraki expressed optimism about genuine reconciliation of all aggrieved party members in the state.
“As you know we are here as part of the national reconciliation strategy committee and we are very happy with what has transpired this afternoon here with the PDP family.
“We’ve resolved that all parties work closely together under the leadership of our performing Governor, Seyi Makinde and all different areas of differences, we all decide to put it aside in ensuring that the PDP is victorious in Oyo state and the national level.
“I want to commend the stakeholders who have come who have agreed that today is the beginning of a new chapter in Oyo state. And I want to than our Governor as well for his commitment as he said that ‘I am a beneficiary of what the party is doing and I hope that when I finish my own term too people in PDP will continue to benefit from that.
“So everybody here is committed in ensuring that PDP continue to work that PDP continue to succeed in the state,” Saraki said.
The Saraki led committee however, assured of returning to the state at a later date to follow up on the progress of the reconciliation.
