Date: 2010-05-10

The attention of His Excellency, the Governor of Kwara State and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Dr Bukola Saraki has been drawn to the front page story in Thisday Newspaper of Saturday, May 15, 2010 with the caption: ‘Ogbulafor: “why I resigned” and the rider: Govs Woo Pius Anyim For Chairmanship.

In the story, the reporter claimed that following the formal resignation of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic party,(PDP), Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, the search for his successor has commenced, with five State Governors namely Bukola Saraki (Kwara), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Timi Sylva (Bayelsa) being speculated to be wooing former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim for the job. The report goes further to state that if Anyim accept to declare interest in the job, the five governors would convince their colleagues to support him as the next National Chairman of the PDP.

His Excellency, Dr Bukola Saraki wishes to State that the reported wooing of Chief Anyim by the five governors for PDP Chairmanship is totally false, mischievous and a figment of riotous imagination of the reporter.

There was never a time where the five mentioned governors met separately or with other members of the PDP Governors to deliberate on the former Senate President or express interest on him or any other person for the PDP Chairmanship.

The task of producing a successor for the departing Chairman rest squarely on the PDP Governors from the South-East and other Stake-holders from the zone and we, the PDP Governors have absolute confidence in the ability of the South-East Governors and stake-holders to produce a credible and acceptable successor for the party.

This report has the tendency and capacity to cause division and disaffection within the party and the members and consequently, His Excellency, Dr Saraki earnestly urge journalists to take the pains to cross-check their stories before serving them to the reading public to avoid creating unnecessary tension and heating up the polity.  

BILLY ADEDAMOLA
Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Kwara State
15/05/10