Ayodele Fayose, the governor of Ekiti State, has emerged the new chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum. The governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson announced this to journalists in Abuja in the night of Thursday, January 19, 2017 after a meeting between PDP governors and leadership of the party in Abuja.
Addressing Newsmen shortly after the Forum’s meeting, Dickson stated that the forum decided to settle for Fayose based on his record of performance and as the most Senior Governor under the platform of the Party.
Flanked by other governors present at the meeting and the leaders of the party, Dickson reiterated that the choice of Fayose was a collective one among the governors.
“The governors of our party, leadership of the national assembly as well as the leadership of the Caretaker Committee of our party had a consultative meeting, very fruitful deliberation concerning the state of affairs of our country, the state of our democracy as well as discussion on the way forward for our great party.
“At the integral part of our discussion, the governors after consultation amongst ourselves and those unavoidably absent unanimously in line with the tradition of our party agreed to appoint our colleague, the most senior governor in PDP, His Excellency, Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose, Governor of Ekiti State as the new chairman of the PDP governor’s forum”, Dickson stated.
Dickson also played glowing tributes to the immediate past chairman of the forum, Dr Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state for his immense contributions for the development of the Party during his tenure.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the Chairman Board of Trustee, BOT of the Party, Senator Walid Jibrin and the leadership of the Party in the National Assembly, Senator Ike Ekweremadu endorsed the choice of Fayose describing him as a real party man who would boost the growth and development of the Party.
In his acceptance speech, Fayose who succeeded Governor Olusegun Mimiko described his election as call to service and promised not to let the party down as the Chairman of the Forum.
Fayose added that he was out to pull down the wall of Jericho surrounding the party with a promise to embark on total mobilization of party members nationwide ahead of the 2019 General elections.
“On behalf of my colleagues, the leadership of this party under Senator Ahmed Makarfi, I appreciate you all for your support for Nigeria and the PDP. I take this responsibility at a time the party needs somebody to stand up, we will do this to represent you and to represent Nigerians well.
“This is a call to pull down the wall of Jericho, a call to make difference, I want to assure you that within the next few months, the mobilisation, the consultation will be so effective and enriching that there will be a new beginning for our party”, Fayose said.
Governor Fayose who showered encomium on Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State for serving the forum so well assured that the party would work very hard with all stakeholders to reclaim its lost glory and as well form the government at the Central come 2019.
