PRESIDENT Goodluck Ebele Jonathan continued his tour of state chapters of the ruling People's Democratic Party, PDP and penultimate Monday, his train berthed in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, which is controlled by the All Progressives Congress, APC.

As early as 8 am, PDP members and supporters of the returnees thronged the state owned Metropolitan Square, Ilorin which was filled to capacity by PDP faithful from all parts  of   the state. The rally was organized by the Solomon Edojah-led state caretaker committee of the party, which also had media guru, Mr Lanre Isa-Onilu on the team.

Defectors: Those who defected to the PDP, include a former governorship candidate on the plank of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mr Mohammed Dele Belgore; Senator Gbemi Saraki; the Interim State Chairman of the APC, Rev Bunmi Olusanya, Mr Akeem Lawal, Mrs Bilikisu Gambari and Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazak and  their teeming supporters.

Before now, PDP electoral fortunes were dwindling as a result of the division among the stakeholders of the party.
The unity rally, according to pundits, has shown that the stakeholders are prepared to sheathe their swords in order to wrest power from the Bukola Saraki power bloc.

Saraki power bloc

Already, the outcome of the unity rally has led to the removal of the Chairman of the National Sports Commission and Minister of Sports, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi, who was said not to have identified with the Kwara PDP.

PDP is alive in Kwara - Gbemi Saraki

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Senator Saraki said though there was acrimony among stakeholders, all hands are now on deck to ensure the PDP forms the next government in Kwara State.

Senator Saraki, who is also the younger sister to Senator Bukola Sarakiassured President Jonathan and the PDP hierarchy that the stakeholders are ready to deliver Kwara to the PDP.

"I am sure you came with lots of question. One of the questions is, is PDP dead in Kwara state? You can see for yourself that PDP is very much alive. It is clear that the reason for  defection by a loud few is because of their personal and selfish interest. It is not about Kwarans, majority of whom remain committed," she said.

On the acrimony in the state chapter of the party, she said,  "so much has been said about the acrimony among the stakeholders, they have said they cannot work together. This is far from the truth. In order not to disappoint our people that are ready for change, our individual desires have taken a back seat in the scheme of things."

Roll call

Aside President Jonathan, other notable chieftains of the PDP at the rally include Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President   David Mark, National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Adamu Mu'azu, Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Lyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa).

Others are Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Mr Yemi Awoniyi, PDP BoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, Dr Ahmadu Ali, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Senator Ben Obi, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Mrs Stella Omu, Senator Saminu Turaki and Chief Barnabas Gemade.

We're ready to reclaim Kwara-Akpabio

Welcoming the decampees and returnees to the PDP, Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio boasted that the party was ready to set the state free.
Akpabio said: "Kwara has always belonged to the centre. You have encouraged us with your numbers that you are ready to give us another PDP governor in Kwara State."

He enjoined people of the state to "take every legal measure and take every spiritual measure to go to God almighty to cry that nobody can donate our mandate in Kwara  State and give to people who do not work for it.

We are owned by the people-Mark

On his part, Senate President, David Mark  said he was overwhelmed by the crowd present at the rally noting that the PDP remains the party that has internal democracy saying "this  is the only party where there is democracy. We are not owned by an individual. We are own by any group.
We are owned by the people. Going round I was moved because I have not seen this kind of enthusiastic crowd anywhere in this country."

We'll retake Kwara - Mu'azu

PDP National Chairman, Dr Mu'azu appealed to Kwarans to cast  vote for PDP in the 2015 general elections, just as he urged those willing to return to the fold to join the train, saying: "I want you repeat what you did in 2011 in 2015. The only truly democratic party is PDP, because it is the party of the rich poor, men, women and ordinary people."

No more imposition or godfatherism in PDP - Jonathan

On his part, President Jonathan thanked  supporters of the PDP who turned up for the event. He was, however, quick to state that PDP is not owned by any individual or group of persons. There is no more imposition or godfathers in the PDP. It is only in PDP that the people of Kwara can have the freedom they desire and its in the party that any Nigerian can come from nowhere and become somebody.

Noting that the era of imposition of candidates in the party was over, he said: "Members of the PDP are not dictators but those who have the interest of their people at heart. It is only in our party that we encourage everyone irrespective of where he comes from," he said.