The Elders Council of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP may have finally sealed the political coffin of the former Minister of state, Defense, Senator Musliu Obanikoro, as the council has declared that he was not electable and would not be allowed to emerge as the party’s standard bearer.
This was disclosed at a press briefing in Lagos by Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe. The council is headed by Chief Olabode George.
Ogunlewe, a former Minister of works, said the group and Lagosians were quite familiar with the negative image of Obanikoro as well as his records, declaring that “never again, we will never again return to Babylon. Never again will we allow people of doubtful character to rule this state, never again.”
While vowing that Obanikoro would not be picked by delegates at the PDP gubernatorial primaries today to fly the party’s flag in the 2015 poll, Ogunlewe counselled him to “be a game player and not a game spoiler.”
He said that PDP leadership had it on authority that Obanikoro was working for the opposition, adding that the Elders’ Council came about its position on Obanikoro in the interest of the electorate and Lagosians in general.
He said: “We want a candidate Lagosians will believe in, we want a candidate with appropriate pedigree; that would be a professional, very decent, a person that will not be controversial, that will be cool-headed and would be loved by all citizens.
“We don’t want hooligans again that will be carrying guns and fighting on the streets. We have passed that stage. We must move forward, Lagos is the centre of economic activities.
“We would not vote for him, never. All the leadership have agreed that we would not subject the people of Lagos State to that kind of impunity again, never. Never, because we are thinking of the electorate; and a party that does not think of the electorate is a foolish party.”
Ogunlewe said the party was determined to present a gubernatorial candidate that would be believed by Lagosians, a professional with appropriate pedigree, among others, adding that PDP will not by any means pick anybody who possesses qualities lower than Akinwunmi Ambode’s.
Continuing, Ogunlewe clarified the party’s position on Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, who claimed to have been hounded out of Lagos gubernatorial race, declaring him a migrant politician who did not obtain expression of interest form because he had no money to pay.
Ogunlewe said: “He didn’t belong to PDP, he has been in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, CAN; he is a migrant politician, he should tell us which local government he belongs.”
On Obanikoro’s statement that he was contesting the gubernatorial primaries against former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief George, and not Jimi Agbaje, Ogunlewe described the statement as unfair and equally uncalled for, adding that Obanikoro was merely biting the finger that fed him. He cautioned all the aspirants to give due respect to elders and leaders of the party as demanded by Yoruba culture.
Comments