Nigerian Tribune reports that ahead the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries today in Lagos, the party’s Elders’ Council are of the opinion that Senator Musiliu Obanikoro’s aspirations for the governorship seat is not feasible.
The PDP Elders’ Council, Lagos State, headed by Chief Olabode George, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, among others said Obanikoro was not electable.
Ogunlewe, who addressed newsmen on Saturday night, at the Ikoyi residence of Chief George, noted that the group and Lagosians were quite familiar with the image of Obanikoro, as well as his records, declaring that “never again; we will never again return to Babylon.
The former minister, who vowed that Senator Obanikoro would not be picked by delegates at the PDP governorship primaries holding today to fly the party’s flag in the 2015 poll, however, counselled him to “be a game player and not a game spoiler.”
The PDP chieftain, while alleging that the leadership of the party had it on authority that the governorship aspirant was working for the opposition, said his group came about its position on Obanikoro in the interest of the electorate and Lagosians in general.
“We are thinking about the general election, what would you do as electorate? What would you as electorate do? You would not vote for us, why are you pretending?” Ogunlewe said in reaction to a question.
He further said: “We will never pick him, we will never return to Babylon. We will do what the electorate want. We will never, never, never pick him. I have answered you, we will never return to Babylon, never.
“We will not vote for him, never. The leadership has agreed that it would not subject the people of Lagos State to that kind of impunity again, never. Never, because we are thinking of the electorate, a lot of us; and a party that does not think of the electorate is a foolish party. And what are the electorate saying? You as part of the electorate in this state, which type of governor do you want to work with? You are not going to say no, no you don’t care; which school will your children attend?
“ We are all stakeholders for God’s sake, don’t let us plunge our state into disrepute again. There is nothing I am saying that you don’t know about. You can ask questions the way you like, but I know that you know in your heart of heart the type of governor you want for this state.
“We are in this battle on behalf of the electorate, I am not talking about myself. To protect the electorate, we don’t want to put the lives of the electorate in jeopardy.
“We will never return to Babylon. Koro is not electible.”
Speaking further, Ogunlewe said the party was poised to produce a governorship candidate, who would be believed by Lagosians, adding that the lucky candidate must be a professional with appropriate pedigree, among others.
According to him, the PDP would not by anyway go lower to pick anybody who possessed qualities lower than Fashola’s.
This is just as he declared that Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, who claimed to have been hounded out of Lagos governorship race, was a migrant politician and itinerary lecturer who did not obtain expression of interest form.
“He didn’t belong to the PDP, he had been in ACN; he is a migrant politician. He should tell us which local government he belongs.
“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,” Ogunlewe added.
Ogunlewe, while expressing strong view on statement credited to Senator Obanikoro that he was contesting the governorship primaries against the former deputy national chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, and not Agbaje, described such statement as unfair and equally uncalled for, noting that Obanikoro was merely biting the finger that fed him.
He reiterated that party leadership and members were no more ready to answer questions concerning character and pedigree of party candidate for election.
He, therefore, cautioned all the aspirants to give due respect to elders and leaders of the party as demanded by Yoruba culture, adding that respect was part of Yoruba culture.
Credit: Nigerian Tribune