I've Put Yoruba in Political Mainstream - Obasanjo
From Hammed Shittu in Osogbo
As part of his administration's achievements since mounting the saddle of leadership in 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo said yesterday in Osogbo, Osun State, that he has pushed the South-west politics to national glare.
Obasanjo, who's on a state visit to Osun State, said: "I want to tell you that this is the first time in the historical development of Nigeria when the Yoruba will be in the mainstream politics and voted enmasse for the party at the centre, Peoples Democra-tic Party (PDP)."
The President also reminded public officers elected on the platform of the party to be result-oriented as that is what would propel the electorate to vote the party again in the forthcoming polls.
"I want you to perform creditably as that is the only way you can disgrace your opponents. This will go a long way in brightening the chance of PDP in the future elections."
He also warned members of the party pursuing divisive ambition for presidential aspirants ahead 2007 saying such members would be put into the hands of God.
President Obasanjo disclosed this yesterday while declaring open the Expanded Executive Committee of the PDP meeting held at Miccom Golf Hotels and Resort, Ada, Osun State.
He said that, "what should be paramount on the minds of every member of the party is to work together as one and united for the peace and progress of the nation.
The meeting which coincided with the three-day official visit of President Obasanjo to Osun State also gave Obasanjo the opportunity to say that: "In politics, there is bound to be hiccups but should be resolved in a round-table conference within the party caucus instead of washing your dirty linen in the public."
He added that, "I have no respect or regard for any member of PDP who for any disagreement goes out of the party rather than talk it over."
The South-west meeting which was not attended by the strongman of Ibadan politics Alhaji Adelakun Adedibu and Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, but President Obasanjo stressed that, "any top notch of the party that would want to cause division as a result of interest for 2007 polls would be put in the hands of God."
Earlier before the South-west meeting of the PDP, the president had participated in the monthly FRCN programme tagged "President Explains" where he stated that the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) will be re-organised so as to boost the transportation system in the country.
This, he said, would also assist the agricultural products to get to the ready-made markets of the economy.
Obasanjo who expressed concern over the situation in the NRC, said that all efforts will be made by his government in order to bring back the lost glory of the railway transportation.
He also used the occasion to commission a new federal secretariat in Osogbo "to bring the workers of the Federal Government under the same umbrella."
President Obasanjo later commissioned Okuku Water Mini Works, Iree-Eripa Water Works, Ada-Iree Road and Miccom Golf ground before the PDP South-west meeting.
In his speech at the PDP meeting, the host governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, stated that the meeting was convened in order to enable the members of the PDP in the South-west to rub minds together for the overall development of the zone.
He said that the meeting would allow the members to generate ideas that could be used to garner support for the party.
Oyinlola, however, vowed that the PDP South-west governors and other elected representatives of the party in the zone would work assiduously in order to move the zone forward.
Also speaking, the National Vice Chairman, South-west of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, stated that "with the winning of the PDP in the South-west, the zone has moved to mainstream politics."
He said that "the idea of staying out from the national politics over a period of years has not brought any positive development to the zone."
George who used the occasion to present the decampees from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the state led by former Senator representing Osun-west senatorial district, Senator Sunday Fajinmi, to the PDP South-west and President Obasanjo stated that they should count themselves as true PDP members and worked for the peace and progress of the party.
He also called on the members of the party to bury their hatchet and come together for the upliftment of the PDP.
George, however, stated that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP would not hesitate to use its sledge hammer against nay party member that worked against the interest of the party.
Among those that graced the meeting were Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, Governor Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State and Chief Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State.
Also in attendance were PDP senators, Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, Senator Clement Alademelu, House of Representatives members of PDP, deputy governors, and speakers of the state House of assemblies in the zone and other top PDP notchers.
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