As the news of the coronavirus patient zero was preparing to ripple across the country early on Friday, February 28, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was also rounding up it’s reconciliation meeting aimed at uniting the different warring factions within it’s Lagos chapter.
At a press conference that morning, the governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde, talked tough and sounded a note of warning to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.
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Makinde was quoted to have said;
“I can assure you that the unity of the PDP in Lagos State is sacrosanct right now. We are also putting the APC on notice that they need to prepare for what is coming in Lagos.”
-Seyi Makinde
Without wasting time, the publicity secretary of the Lagos APC had also fired an equal salvo at Makinde and the PDP that, “It will take more than the still-born unity among gangsters to take Lagos State from the path of progressive governance.”
The meeting was held at the residence of Chief Bode George, with him in attendance alongside Kofoworola Bucknor Akerele, James Ibori, Ebenezer Babatope and a host of other elders mainly in the Lagos PDP. At the media briefing, journalists pointed out the implication of the absence of Deji Doherty, the chairman of the Lagos PDP to Makinde, but Makinde dismissed it as immaterial. He reiterated that the reconciliation committee which he is chairing will be working in stages and will subsequently have Doherty and others in attendance.
However, a more tactical move by an ex PDP member and former Lagos governorship aspirant, Babatunde Gbadamosi, might be tipping the balance as he has returned to the PDP from the African Democratic Party (ADP). Gbadamosi made the move earlier on Thursday morning as he picked up his membership card at the party headquarters while his supporters accompanied him. Gbadamosi was also reported to have been present at this reconciliation meeting chaired by Makinde.
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Back in February 2020, Gbadamosi shared the contest stage with former Lagos PDP gubernatorial candidate, Jimi Agbaje, and the incumbent governor, Jide Sanwoolu and others at the last general elections. He gave them a run for their money and ideas for a prosperous Lagos in the debates organised for the elections where he managed to become the favourite of more moderate, undecided and upwardly mobile voters.
The return of Gbadamosi to the PDP must have been well timed to coincide with efforts at reconciling the factions and resolving pending rifts which has held the party’s progress back in the state.
With Agbaje now most likely not recontesting the Lagos gubernatorial elections any longer, a young and vibrant Gbadamosi entering the foray would make Ahmed Tinubu himself shift uncomfortably in his seat especially once the Lagos opposition party has united.
The choice of Makinde to unite the Lagos PDP must have also stemmed from his fast-rising popularity among the people and from his record so far as executive governor of Oyo state. Now, the PDP seems to be ready to milk the goodwill behind Makinde to the last as he will be deployed for more duties within and without the PDP machinery.
The machinations which will determine the outcome of the coming general elections in 2023 are already being implemented. Such work is ongoing not just at the federal level where the debate of who will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidency, but also at the state level as well.
But before we can continue to make insinuations about the fate of the PDP in Lagos, whether they are able to set their house right will be a better determinant of the PDP rescuing Lagos from the tight grip of Tinubu’s hegemony or not.
Featured Image Source: The Guardian NG
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