CONTRARY to specula­tions that media mogul and business umpire, Chief Ray­mond Dokpesi, might have stepped down for elderly Chief Bode George in the race for the national chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), the ex-chairman of Daar Communications has denied surrendering his ambi­tion of becoming the national leader of the party to the latter.

Dopkesi, who took his cam­paign train to the 17th state of the federation in Ekiti dur­ing the weekend, said his as­piration to lead the PDP and revamp the party is much stronger for him to consider stepping down for George. He boasted that he is more vibrant, energetic and strong enough to rebuild, re-struc­ture and re-unite the party.

“I have been a member of this party since 1998 and I have never come out to con­test for any position in the party or for any elective post. After we lost in the last general elections, I thought I was go­ing to retire for some less chal­lenging tasks. But then, the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) would not allow our party rest. They would not al­low our governors deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

They have continuously challenged and ridiculed us. They want to muscle us into extinction. And I thank you, Ekiti people, greatly, for stand­ing solidly behind your gov­ernor to battle the opposition relentlessly, and that is why I have come out to offer myself for service, to defend our de­mocracy and to offer sound service to our people and our party.

“Some people alleged that I have surrendered for our elder in the party, Chief Bode George. Let me make it cat­egorically clear that I was born and bred in Ibadan and I do understand and appreciate the Yoruba traditions so much and I have respect for elders. But there was no time that Chief Bode George and I met and discussed this issue; and I did not, in any way, step down for him because, this time, we need fresh and younger blood that would have the physi­cal and mental alertness for the job. I have been touring 17 states of the federation in just about a week and I’m still strong,” Dokpesi said.

“I’m a bridge between the South-South and the South- West such that I fully under­stand the issues in these areas and know how to manage them better. I only need your cooperation and support so that I”ll be able to protect and project the interest of the South-West in our great party. I don’t think PDP is in any trouble. There are certain elements trying to hold the party to ransom. By the special grace of God, with our perse­verance and cooperation, we shall overcome in a very short time. We have up to August 17, I am bringing freshness, expe­rience and all the major assets that are needed in rebranding, restructuring and rebuilding the party. I will definitely work as a bridge builder. I will bring together the North and bring back the East. I will bring to­gether the South-South and the South-West under one um­brella as a strong, united party. And once again, we will be able to move ahead. We need new faces, empowerment and restructuring, and that would make it work,” he said.

Governor Ayo Fayose, who joined the PDP state chair­man, Mr. Gboyega Oguntuase to receive Dokpesi, lamented the crisis rocking the party, especially the Ali Modu Sher­if’s factor, which he took full responsibility for, saying “we are deeply concerned about the crisis rocking our party presently; more so, with a lot of people paying lip service to the reconciliation. But, I want to assure you that tough times don’t last, tough people do. When one considers your an­tecedents as an enterprenuer, a builder of industry and a pio­neer of a highly successful pri­vate media organization in the country, among other factors, there is no doubt that you are physically, mentally and other wise capable of leading our great party.

Thesun…………

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