PDP Leadership Not Gender Sensitive – Senator Biodun Olujimi

By Ayodele Oni

Senator Biodun Olujimi representing Ekiti North at the Senate, said she was humilated by the position of the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) on the outcome of the party’s Governorship Primary in Ekiti state.

She was the only female that participated in the Primary Election of the PDP.

Olujimi had pulled out of the Primary  due to some alleged malpractices observed in the delegates list used for the election.

She also cited refusal to conduct Party Congress in two Local Governments, in her Senatorial District.

Despite her position, the leadership of the party went ahead to present Certificate of Return to the winner of the election, Bisi Kolawole, annoited candidate of former Governor Ayo Fayose.

Addressing her supporters at a meeting on Tuesday, the Senator expressed the view that her position on the Primary Election was jetissioned because of her gender.

“Today we just held a meeting, we thought it was going to be a small meeting but our people really want to hear from us, that’s why we’re many here.

“There were erroneous beliefs over the time, but we’ve discussed extensively about the issues and its clear now.

“In our group, we’ve decided to maintain collegiate leadership and that’s why we’re here to listen to our people. They’ve told us their feelings and what they are seeing.

“We’ve set up a 17-man Committee of one per local government with a Chairman, Rt. Hon Tunji Odeyemi, and we gave them a time frame of three days to report back to us on what we should agree to do.

“The Committee members are veritable leaders, there will be a larger house meeting on Sunday.

“What some of our people want is to pull out, but I let them realize that, that cannot be done in a hurry because tempers are high and we can see a lot of angers in our people.

‘We’ve initiated a good force, it’s the ability to sit together and to channel a good course for ourselves.

“What the national did, is highly disappointing and unexpected. If the former governor is a sitting senator would they have rubbished him as they did to Senator Biodun Olujimi?

“No! It’s clear that my Gender has affected me and no one can take me for granted.

”The reason Engr. Segun Oni has not contacted me is simple, he knows how I feel and he knows that I’ll never take any decision in hurry.”

Oni has since then quit the PDP, and gunning to contest for the Governorship under the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.