Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has kept a low profile in the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since he resigned as its Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman in 2012, has been described as a strong pillar of the party by the South West zone of PDP.
This was made known by the PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman in the zone, Chief Ishola Filani, who spoke at the party’s rally in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State on Sunday evening.
The event which featured the defection of 5,000 members of opposition parties into the PDP, was attended by the Osun PDP Chairman, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa; his Oyo State counterpart, Yinka Taiwo, Ogun PDP Chairman, Adebayo Dayo, Prince Buruji Kashamu, Hon. Kayode Amusan, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, Otunba Leke Adekoya, Mrs. Abosede Ogunleye, who represented former Deputy Governor, Rafiu Ogunleye, and Alhaji Agboola Alausa, among others.
Filani said the South West PDP leadership and state chapters in the zone had implicit confidence in Obasanjo, whom, he noted, was a symbol of pride to the Yorubas.
He said, “Obasanjo is the only person who was head of state under the military, who was twice president as civilian president and who has continued all over the world to look for peace and ensure that governments internationally are in order.
“I, on behalf of the six states in the South West PDP, tell the whole world that the PDP in the South West pass vote of confidence on him.
“We have implicit confidence in Baba Obasanjo as our father and leader”, he stressed.
Speaking in the same vein, South West PDP scribe, Chief Pegba Otemolu said though Obasanjo had decided to step aside from party activities, they would continue to defer to him in the running of the PDP, especially in the South West geopolitical zone.
He said, “We have nothing against Baba Obasanjo. We will continue to adore him and have him as our leader. I can assure you that age has tolled on him, he has decided to step aside, notwithstanding, we will continue to call on him and ensure that we are one with him.”
Baba still have a lot to offer to this country at large and south west in particular at a time like this. Take it or leave it, that is the naked truth.