Lagos 2023: PDP Governorship Candidate, Jandor Updates Party Leaders On Tour Of Wards, Seeks Co-operation

 

The Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State,  Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, on Saturday held a closed-door strategic meeting with party leaders and elders to map out strategies for victory in 2023 general elections.

Adediran, popularly known as 'Jandor' in company with his running mate, Ms Funke Akindele, met with party's chieftains in Ikeja to update them on his campaign ward tours in the state.

Speaking during the opening session before going into the meeting, the candidate, who described the meeting as parents-children interaction, apologised to the leaders for delaying such meeting, saying it was long overdue

According to him, it is not rudeness or disrespect to them that the meeting is just holding.

"In our own thinking, as your children, we thought we should be the first to carry the load by going to various wards to engage stakeholders before holding this meeting with you.

"I want to thank you for conceding the party tickets to us, but we know you did this because of the faith you have in this state, and belief that the next election should be for time of the PDP.

"It is not strange that there have been reactions in the party on certain issues, but how can we stabilise the party for the purposes of where we are going? I believe this is what you put ahead of all misgivings, hence your presence here.

"What we consider key after the primary elections is to reach out to the electorate who would vote. When we have them in huge number, what the party would do will be small. That is where we see huge job, hence our concentration on grassroots engagements," he said

Adediran, who called for understanding and cooperation of party chieftains, said that the party's electoral victory should be more paramount to leaders above all schisms.

Expressing strong belief that APC's reign in Lagos State would not be forever, Adediran said that PDP's victory in the state was imminent and would be witnessed and celebrated by leaders, who he said had suffered and persevered over years for the party.

"This forthcoming year is the time for us to win to end all the reproaches and name calling over your continued stay in the party. 

"I want to beg you to be more concerned about enthronement of the PDP. This prize we are looking at is yours. 

"I want to appeal to you, if we have one or two persons in the party, either in our community or group, as elders, let us go to them and appease them.

"Also, as elders, if anyone offends us, let us call them and beg them and tell them that what is ahead requires our collective collaboration for us to see the gains," he said.

Adediran said that he and his deputy were very young and could not be perfect or wiser than the elders.

He called for forgiveness from the party leaders anywhere he had offended them by not reaching out to them enough.

Jandor, who noted that there was no party without its internal rancor after primary election, urged the party leaders to forget the past, face elections and see how to mobilise votes.

He said that if offences protracted, elections would come and meet the party unaware.

Adediran, who explained that his campaign team had toured 119 of the 245 wards in the state meeting all stakeholders, said Funke Akindele had visited several markets to solicit votes for the party.

"We believe at the end of the day, these are people that can give us the votes we need. We have been doing all these. I have come to report to you that this is how far we have gone. 

"We want all of us to be together. We must all have understanding. Everyone has a stake in this project and must be carried along. 

"All we hear and see in our tours show that the PDP is ready to win," he said.

Clearing issues on his choice of Funke Akindele as deputy, Adediran said that it was not premeditated or influenced by anyone, but that it was based on God's direction and leading.

Earlier, Funke Akindele, who commended the leaders of the party for accepting and supporting her, said that she would not give up despite all the noise and backlashes.

"I joined the party few months ago as a nobody, but my fathers and mothers here in the party have turned me to somebody. 

"I want to say a very big thank you for your words of advice. I will never give up because you are behind me. Our eyes are on the prize. We will do as the party wants," she said.

She prayed God to keep all the party leadert hail and hearty to witness the party's electoral victory and swearing-in ceremony in the state.

Party stalwarts at the closed door meeting included Chief Alani Ajose, Chief Najeem Fakunnoju, Chief Onita Coker,  Chief Ajike Matilda, Chief Ola Apena, Chief Ahmed Aleshiloye, and Capt Tunji Shelle.

Others were Alhaji Waliu Hassan, Elder James Joseph, Mrs Iyabo Odunsi, Messrs Rahman Owokoniran, Wahab Owokoniran, Adeola Adewunmi, Fatai Shadimu, Deji Wellington and many others.