A PDP chairmanship aspirant in Lagos State, Philip Aivoji, on Wednesday said that only credible state Congress, fairness and justice would save the party from all infightings after Saturday’s congress.
Aivoji, an erstwhile Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Tourism in Lagos State told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that with entrenchment of justice, fairness and discipline, PDP could win the state.
According to him, the main opposition party should be ready to do things differently this time around, having suffered much from imposition of leaders on the members.
Aivoji said that it had been long the PDP allowed members to choose the party officers to steer the affairs of the party, the development, he said, had been fueling discordant tunes, divisions and infightings in the party.
“If there is free, fair and credible congresses, winners will be magnanimous in victory and the losers will also be sportsmanly, working with whoever wins.
‘We must allow people, the delegates to determine those who will lead in the interest of the party. That is the only way to have peace needed for the progress of the party.
“Only fairness and justice within PDP can bring back lost fortune and position the party to win elections,” he said.
Aivoji said that how the state congress would be conducted would determine whether the party would wax strong or not after the congress.
On his goal if elected the chairman of t for the party, Aivoji promised to use all experiences, resources, networks to build the party from the grassroots by bringing disenchanted members back.
“The only mission I have is to win Lagos State for PDP. It is for PDP to win Lagos State. I am going to focus on grassroots. I want to build the party from the grassroots.
“I want to make sure I bring everybody on board- those that have been disappointed by the leadership of the party or whatever reasons.
“So many party chieftains that are supposed to be in the party who are no longer with us because of one reason of the others must be brought back. It is my desire to bring them onboard.
“I know how we organise party and I know the route of Lagos State and people to contact to come on board to win election for PDP in Lagos,” he added.
According to him, efforts will be made to train ward executives and create several directorates to strengthen the party while also bringing back discipline into the party.
He assured that painstaking efforts would be made to follow the party’s constitution to the letter to bring back party loyalty.
Aivoji said: “If I become the State Chairman, I am going to make sure no one is treated unjustly because if there is no justice, there cannot be peace and there cannot be unity.
“There must be fairness, there must be justice and I am going to make sure there are rewards for dedication and commitment to the party.
“I will make the party to be vibrant and ensure everybody’s hand is on deck. The most important thing for us is to win election in Lagos,” he said.
Aivoji expressed hope that the State Congress would not live the party in disarray, saying with fairness the sky would not be the limit for the party.
