2019 General Elections: New PDP to emerge

Sen. Lekan Balogun, a PDP stalwart and Osi Olubadan of Ibadan, has predicted that a new party would emerge from the PDP ahead of the 2019 general elections. Balogun disclosed this on Thursday during the monthly Guest Forum of Oodua Newspapers held at Ijikodo, Ibadan. “I foresee a new party emerging out of the fall of PDP from power after the 2015 elections when the ruling All Progressives Congress took over.

“Some members of the party have gotten to a point of no return and I think they could break away,” he said. The PDP, which came to power in 1999, ruled the country for 16 years. Balogun said that the party failed in its re-election bid because its leadership refused to listen to the advice of elders. The former lawmaker, who took a cursory look at the collapse of the PDP in Oyo State, warned APC not to make the same mistake. “The fall of PDP in Oyo State and at the federal level is dialetic.

“ Former President Goodluck Jonathan was good, but some of his ministers and party men did not help matters,” he said. Balogun, who claimed to have sent several text messages to PDP leaders in Abuja advising them without any response, said he predicted what happened to the party. He said that the extent of the damage to the party’s fortunes was more obvious after the elections.

Balogun also said Nigerians should be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari over allegations of lopsided appointments. “Appointments are made based on principles of intellect, character and national spread. “ President Buhari is a very disciplined leader and I know he would address the issue in subsequent appointments,” he said. He, however, called on the National Assembly and the executive to work together to promote good governance.

On creation of Ibadan State, Balogun said this was desirable but negated by the prevailing paucity of funds. He said: “Take Oyo State for instance where government cannot pay workers and teachers salaries. “ Would any sane person be talking of creation of Ibadan State again?” He also said the late Premier, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was noted for his Free Education Programme, wondering why Gov. Abiola.

Ajimobi’s administration would stop payment of SSCE fees and also impose N3,000 education development levy. Balogun also expressed reservations at the failure of the state government to conduct local government elections after four years. He said this was not only against the tenets of democracy, but contradicted the principle of rule of law.