Former National Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olagunsoye Oyinlola and ex-Secretary to Osun State government Fatai Akinbade have returned to PDP.
A unification rally in Ibadan, Oyo State, was attended by party leaders from Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti and Lagos states. The party wooed interested politicians to join its fold as it ‘is corona-free’.
The rally held amid heavy security presence on roads leading to the famous Mapo Hall.
Others returning to the party are former Ambassador to Jordan Taofik Arapaja (Oyo); Senator Gbenga Babalola; Olalere Gbadamosi (Lagos ADP governorship candidate); Oladipupo Kensington (Ogun); Remi Oseni (Oyo) and Wale Adegoke (Oyo).
The returnees are from All Progressives Congress (APC); Zenith Labour Party (ZLP); Social Democratic Party (SDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Addressing the returnees, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said the rally was part of efforts to ensure the party’s unity in the region.
He stressed that if all was well with the Southwest, all will be well with Nigeria.
Makinde said: “This rally is important to us; it is the beginning of our unity. If Southwest is peaceful, the country will be peaceful. We welcome our brothers and sisters from APC, ADP, ZLP, SDP and ADC.
“I want you to take home two words – the first is they said we shouldn’t hold this rally because of Coronavirus, but it is their boss himself that said there is Coronavirus in their party. There is no Coronavirus in our party. May we not be plaqued with the virus.
“Secondly, last week some people went to demonstrate in Lagos that they don’t want Amotekun. Yesterday, they also went to Ekiti State for the same demonstration, are they good ambassadors of the Yoruba race?
“We want Amotekun and Amotekun has come to stay in this state and in this region. Let us show love to those who have come to join and rejoin us, and all our leaders who have returned to the party. We welcome them all.
“Finally, I assure you all that we will reap from the party and in the region. I thank party members in the state and region, you have promised to support me always and you have also done that.”
Former Deputy National Chairman Chief Bode George said the PDP was open to everybody because it had no virus infection, but working to harmonise its home ahead of the next election.
