By Anthony Obi

A former Minister of Sports/Special Duties, and mem­ber of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja has declared that even if the zoning of the chair­manship of the party does not come to the South West, he was ready to defy all odds and contest for the position.

He made this known while speaking with newsmen shortly after a summit held by leaders of the South West region in Lagos State to deliberate on the state of the party and the region’s stand on the zoning of the chair­manship of the party.

Declaring his intention to vie for the highest political office in the party, Prof. Adedoja, said that the qualifica­tion of the South West to go in for the slot of the chair­man is because the region has eminent people that are qualified, of which he described himself as one.

Related News

His words: “Because we have highly qualified, com­petent men and women of honour in the South west, that

have the experience and the pedigree to lift this party to success in 2019, South West people must contest for the position of chairmanship of the party. I am one of those eminent people. As of today, I have declared to contest for the position of chairman of the party. If or when it is zoned to the South West, I will contest for the position. Even if it is not zoned to the South west, I will contest for the position because it is a matter of right in this country. All of us in this country have equal rights to any position whether appointive or elec­tive. I am desirous and it is a business that must be pursued by the special grace of God.”

Asked what if the party prevails on him not to contest, he said, “The party can only prevail on you if there is a superior argument, but as of today, there is no such. There is no superior argument in the sense that in the politics of PDP, the South West has been marginalized. If this party is about marginaliza­tion, then there is no hope. I also remember that I contest­ed for the National Secretary of the party during the 2012 election, we were asked to step down. We stepped down because of the interest of the party. But now that we are talking in terms of limelight, of national leadership of the party, the position of National Chair­man is very important. And one of the reasons why I am offering myself is that I have worked and lived in all parts of the country. I am a Yoruba man from Ibadan, but I was born in Kano, lived in Borno State, Delta State, in the whole South west, there is hardly anywhere that I have not touched peoples’ lives.”