PDP National Convention: Adeniran Thanks His Supporters, Says HeIs Still in the Race

By Adesina Adetola

A leading national chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Tunde Adeniran has commended his supporters, well-wishers and party loyalists who supported him during the course of the build-up in to the aborted election that was to climax the August 17 national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

In a statement by his media aide, Yemi Akinbode, Adeniran said that the unflinching support he got from major stakeholders and majority of the delegates across the country was the main boost that kept him going through the process.

He said: “I must sincerely commend my supporters across the country. With their support, encouragement and assistance one way or the other, they have really shown that they want progress for the party and are determined to give the PDP the best leadership it rightly deserves at this critical time of nationhood.”

“The overwhelming support encouraged me to further commit myself to lead the process to reposition the party in order to reclaim its national glory. It was clear that majority of our party members were ready to entrust me with the responsibility of being the National Chairman in order to ensure its rebirth and the enthronement of good governance in the country,” the former Minister of Education further said.

Prof. Adeniran dismissed the reports that he stepped down for another aspirant before the convention. He described it as the figment of the fertile imagination of those who did not mean well for the party.

“In the process of electioneering, before the election was eventually postponed, there was no time it crossed my mind or I made any attempt to step down for anybody,” the former Ambassador to Germany explained. “I am still in the race. My intention has never changed, as I am loyal and in support of every course to reposition our party for greatness.

I represent the embodiment of integrity and quality leadership the party needs at this particular time and I believe nobody will toy with it. I want to assure my supporters that I still represent their glorious vision for the party. They should remain calm as we are waiting for every prospective decision made by the leadership of the party and they will hear from me accordingly,” he further said.

Prof Adeniran, a founding member of the PDP who has remained in the party ever since, was Minister of Education from June 1989 to January 2001, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany between May 2004 and January 2007, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) between 2009 and 2011, and Chairman and Director of the Directorate for Social Mobilisation (MAMSER) from 1987 to 1992.