2015: The plan to stop Buhari in the South-West

FROM their looks it was evident that they were in the Ondo State for serious business that will determine their political future and continued relevance in the nation’s polity.

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, across the South West gathered penultimate Saturday in Akure, the Ondo State capital for the inaugural meeting of the National Campaign Council to strategise for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan and principally to deliver the zone to the party in the 2015 general elections.

The tone for the meeting was set by the National Coordinator and governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko,  who has become a force in the PDP since he joined the party three months ago.

Mimiko declared that Jonathan will not only win the 2015 presidential election but will also garner an unprecedented number of votes from the South West.

He submitted to the leaders that the region “ have a date with history as we approach the 2015 general elections. We need to forge a common front and also mend fences because of the task before us is one that can only be done effectively if we have a unity of purpose and demonstrate uncommon loyalty to the cause of our leader, President Goodluck Jonathan, and our great party, the PDP.

“ The PDP should not be difficult to ‘market’ to Nigerians despite the propaganda that the opposition has deliberately orchestrated against us in recent times”, the governor said.

“ It is our responsibility to let Nigerians take pride in the PDP and its pan Nigerian credentials. Our party does not have regional bases, the whole nation is its base and this should definitely be a plus for us.

“With due respect, the choice between the PDP’s candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, and the opposition’s candidate is very clear.

“ The only change that the main opposition to PDP shouts about is indeed a design to change from democracy to dictatorship”.

Leaders from the South-West states chronicled past ‘sins’ of the presidential candidate of the opposition APC ,Gen Muhamadu Buhari, against elder statesmen and foremost leaders from the region to show that “ a leopard can never change” no matter the white washing of the general’s image in and outside the social media.