*PSG SO FAR*
Peoples’ Democratic Party Support Group (PSG) was formed as a child of necessity about three years ago.
We should recall that there was a big crisis that befell this party during the period of amalgamation of PDP and LP which led to composition of new executives across all tiers of the party. This did not go down well with the PDP aborigines and thus caused serious factions within the ranks and files of the party.
Thereafter, the Sheriff vs Markarfi factionalism at the national level of the party surfaced and this became the willing tool used by some aggrieved members to take solace in the court and for justifying some other antiparty activities of our members that caused us the much needed November 26, 2016 Governorship Election. With a party whose future looked bleak in eyes of many myopic members, some defected to the ruling All Progressive Congress, some moved into Labour Party and later Zenith Labour Party while others became disgruntled, disenchanted and discouraged.
In the light of this, some members of the party under the leadership of Hon Bode Obanla stood up the needed responsibility and came together to brainstorm on the way forward for the party in resolution that we had no other political party other than the PDP to call our own.
This move was totally embraced and fully supported by the State Chairman and his amiable Deputy, Engr. Clement Faboyede and Alhaji Fatai Adams respectively. When some other members of state executives were echoing their disapprovals, these duo stood their grounds and adopted the PSG as publicity arm of the party. This was because the Publicity Secretary then, Hon. Banji Okunomo was running a programme which preoccupied him and the party publicity organ was brought to its knees
*MEMBERSHIP*
The PSG draws its membership across the entire eighteen local governments of Ondo State. It started with five members per local government before the number increased tremendously when the activities of the group started yielding amazing results.
*FUNDING*
Peoples’ Democratic Party Support Group raises its funding through personal donations by its members. It is self-financing.
*ROLES AND ACHIEVEMENTS*
The PSG played the following roles:
1. Visited aggrieved members and leaders across the eighteen local governments, counselled them on the needs to close ranks and work together as one indivisible family. Many of them are back to the fold of the party today playing different roles. Some are even at the drivers’ seat now.
2. Visited and still visiting all media houses both prints and electronics propagating and advancing the courses of PDP.
3. Organised 2nd Anniversary of the formation of PSG and therein promoted the party by bringing together members across Ondo State. The theme of the seminar was *”HARNESSING THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE”*
These and others are some of the activities of PSG that have brought the party together and made it an enviable platform for any serious politician to ply his or her trade.
It’s therefore needed to be emphasized that some sets of people who were indisposed when the chips were down came back when the party won stability. It’s noteworthy to reiterate that PSG members played major roles in their come-back to the people’s oriented party.
Unfortunately, some of them have decided to constitute a cog in the wheel of progress of the support group. Some of those people who lost faith in the party and who were all out to cause schism in the party are still calling for the heads of members of the group.
PSG wants to admonish them to turn over a new leaf. They should allow all members of the party to put hands on deck for the overall success of the party in the coming elections, especially, the governorship election.
We wish to appreciate the former state executives under the leadership of Engr. Clement Faboyede for allowing us to contribute, in our own little way, to the repositioning, re-engineering and rebranding of PDP to an enviable platform. Without their supports, we couldn’t have gone this far.
Finally, we wish to appeal to the conscience of all the aspirants on the platform of PDP whether for state executive or Governorship positions that the interest of this party must be prioritized. They should please play according to the rules and refuse to be used as willing tools to cause any form of disaffection within the PDP. No man’s ambition is greater than this party. We are not interested in going back to Egypt again.
There is no crime in aspiring for any position as it falls within their inalienable rights but such rights must be exercised within the ambit of the law. There is no other party we can properly call our own. There is nothing to share from zero. This year’s Governorship Election is a ‘must win’ for us. Victory of PDP in the election is not negotiable!
Thank you.
Faithfully yours,
‘Kunle Adeloye
Secretary, PSG.
Remi Ofakunrin
Publicity Secretary