PDP hails Afenifere for Jonathan's endorsement

The National Vice-Chairman, South-West of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, has hailed the recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for another term by the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, and said it was 'a pointer to the wide acceptability of the president in the region.'

Ogundipe said in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Wednesday that 'Afenifere also spoke the mind of the Yoruba race.'

He gave the assurance that the president would fully implement the recommendations of the National Conference when he assumes office for another term.

He said: 'Our leaders in Afenifere spoke in Akure, Ondo State and they spoke the mind of the Yoruba people. I have no doubt that the PDP will win convincingly in the South-West. Yoruba people know who their friends are. How will they vote for somebody who clamped their leaders in jail without any reason.

'Our revered leaders such as Pa Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Bisi Onabanjo and others were jailed for committing no crime. The metro line project in Lagos was stopped out of vendetta.

'The late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was not even spared by the dictator, who harassed him. Our monarchs were also not left out as the Ooni of Ile-Ife and the Emir of Kano were also punished for nothing.

'Our party is waxing stronger on daily basis in the region. We have resolved the crisis in Ondo State, Ekiti is firmly under our control. Oyo, Ogun, Osun and Lagos states are identifying with the PDP. Those that are day dreaming will soon wake up to the reality of their great loss when the results of the elections are announced next month,' he said.

Ogundipe advised voters in the region yet to collect their PVCs to do so, saying coming election was an opportunity for them to further enjoy the dividends of democracy.

It will be recalled that Afenifere leaders, on Tuesday night, held a meeting in Akure where they expressed their support for President Jonathan's re-election.