PDP Nat’l Youth Leader: Why I am still in the race – Bara

Following the recent zoning formula released by the Southern Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which formally zoned the National Chairmanship position of the party to the South West geopolitical zone and National Youth Leader to the South East geopolitical zone one of the aspirants for the party’s National Youth Leader position, Hon. Ogidi Ben Bara, said he was still in the race.

This was stated by Ogidi while reacting to the decision by the party’s southern leadership and said he was not going to be distracted by that but will go on with his ambition.

Ogidi fondly called OBB also disclosed that he will purchase his form within the week at the party’s National Headquarters, asked his supporters to remain calm, and assured them that nobody could stop his decision.

He said: “I want to assure my teeming supporters in the party and delegates that I am fully in the race for the post of National Youth Leader of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

“I also want you to know that I am going to purchase my form within the week at the National Secretariat of our party in Abuja to continue in the race, and no matter the zoning the National Youth Leader position to the South East geopolitical zone and not the South-South geopolitical zone I come from.

“The decision of the Southern leaders of the party to zone the position to the South East geopolitical zone does not change my decision. I only see that as mere distraction but I am not moved by that in anyway.

“But I am concerned with this zoning ideology because it has not helped us as a party and would not do it any good because more mediocre will be brought in and cause more damages to the party’s repute and performance.”   

He also urged the party’s leadership have a rethink of the factors that bedevilled the party’s image following the self interest demonstrated by some members of its leadership and consider immediate rescinding of its decision taken last week on zoning if it really wants to take over power in 2019.

“It was unimaginable for the Southern Leadership of the party to zone national positions meant for the South-South geopolitical zone to South West geopolitical zone, and does not indicate the progress and success we expect for the party.

“It is imperative to state that the issue of zoning is not healthy for the party at this moment because the party is in serious need of credible National Chairman and Youth leader to rescue it and build bridges that would reinvent the party and make it formidable to take over power from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in 2019.

“My worry is we may not actualise this lofty dream come 2019 if the party allows the zoning to go on and definitely wrong people will come on board and cause more disaffection in the party and plunge it into the path of irreparable loss. Let the party leaders have a rethink and rescind the decision immediately because the way things are going a repeat of what happened in 2015 might reoccur in 2019”, he warned.