We want House of Reps’ Speaker position – PDP South-West tells Tukur

As the build-up to 2015 general gains momentum, the South-west chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has resumed fresh moves to oust Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The zone is also seeking the removal of Solomon Onwe as acting national secretary of the party.

Speaker, Tambuwal who is from the Northwest, had emerged owing to the inability of the Southwest to agree on a common candidate

Dailypost gathered that powerful stakeholders told the PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, during his recent visit to Ibadan that they wanted the Speaker’s position returned to the region.

Tukur was in Ibadan to resolve the crisis which has led to disunity and rancor among members.

Zonal leaders say they want a proper re-structuring because of what they described as “marginalisation” in the leadership structure.

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and his loyalists stayed away from the meeting.

Two high-ranking stalwarts of the Yoruba, former Osun Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the PDP National Secretary, and another ex-governor Segun Oni, lost their seats in the National Executive Council in high-wired political power play.

Although Oyinlola was ousted by a court, observers say the ruling party has shown little interest in presenting a strong case that would ensure his reinstatement.

But Tukur at the meeting pleaded with the PDP Southwest leaders to give the national leadership some time to correct the imbalance in the distribution of political offices.Baring his mind on the matter, a PDP leader in the zone said: ”Yes, we are in a position to push for the redistribution of political offices. Specifically, we want the position of the Speaker and that of the party secretary to be given to us in the Southwest. It doesn’t matter that some people currently occupy the positions. The party’s zoning principle gave them to us and so they should be ours.

“If we must tell our people to look in the way of the PDP again, we must be able to tell them the party respects and desires them. If the people feel they are not wanted by the party, it will be difficult to tell them about the party.

“From the presidency to the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, that is about ten top positions in the country, no Yoruba is there. We can feel it that the anger of our people against the party is just because of that. We are determined to push for redistribution in line with the constitution of the party.

“Initially we wanted the issue raised publicly at the reception but the leaders prevailed on us to allow for a private discussion of the matter given how sensitive it is. That was why a brief parley followed the reception same day.”

However, former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu in his remark at the reception held in honour of Tukur at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, spoke on the need for the PDP to respect its constitution and promote equality and fairness among its members