Encomium
‘He will still win’ – APC
THE Ogun State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is said to be doing everything at the moment to ensure that the incumbent governor and candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ibikunle Amosun is sent packing from Mosan, the seat of power in 2015.
An impeccable source disclosed to ENCOMIUM Weekly that the party is working on fielding a candidate of Egba extraction like Amosun.
This, we were told, is to further weaken the chances of the governor to come back in 2015.
According to the source, former Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Sabiru Bankole, former Minister of Mines and Power, Sarafadeen Ishola and Prince Yanju Lipede (former chairman, Abeokuta South LG), all from Ogun Central are being considered for the party’s ticket. And whoever is favoured among the three aspirants will fly PDP flag in the 2015 governorship election in the state.
The source also said there is likelihood of a consensus candidate emerging if the ongoing negotiation works out. According to the source, all is to make sure Amosun’s stronghold is captured in the forthcoming general elections in the state.
The only factor that can mar the arrangement, the source said, is the conflict of interest among Buruji Kashamu, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Chief Jubril Martins Kuye, who are said to be playing the roles of godfathers to different aspirants at the moment.
While Kuye has been reportedly pushing for Bankole, who we learnt is yet to signify his intention to vie for the ticket, OGD is said to have preference for Prince Yanju Lipede. However, Sarafadeen Ishola is rumoured to be pitching his tent with Buruji and partly Kuye.
However, if Egba factor eventually fails, the source revealed to ENCOMIUM Weekly that Buruji is working on the alternative plan to feature a candidate from Yewa and that will be between Omooba Segun Adewale and Hon. Biodun Akinlade, who are from Ogun West senatorial district.
“The road of Amosun to Mosan in 2015 may not be that smooth. For now, a lot of factors are working against that. Aside the defection of some APC members to PDP and SDP recently, I learnt PDP is making all efforts to ensure Amosun doesn’t come back in 2015. I learnt top on the agenda of the party now is to ensure a candidate
of Egba extraction emerges as party’s flag-bearer in the next governorship election. And that is the zone Amosun is from. Also, the Osoba factor is there. The crisis between him and his deputy, Segun Adesegun is yet to be resolved. Members of PDP in the state have been capitalizing on that to launch a fresh attack on Amosun’s administration. All these and more may hinder the chances of APC retaining the exalted seat in 2015.
“Also based on the political permutations in the state, if APC fails to reconcile all the warring factions before the election, the party’s victory is strongly in doubt. Although, I learnt the national leadership of the party is still making frantic efforts towards amicable resolution of the crisis rocking the party, nothing yet has been achieved on the issue.”
Speaking with ENCOMIUM Weekly on Saturday, November 15, 2014, Ogun APC spokesperson, Mr. Sola Lawal allayed the fear of the party losing out to PDP in the next governorship election in the state. He also argued that there is no crisis within the party at the moment. Lawal stated categorically that both Chief Olusegun Osoba and aggrieved Deputy Governor, Segun Adesegun are still card carrying members of the party.
“There is no crisis in Ogun APC. Osoba is still a card carrying member of APC. He has never said he has decamped to any political party. Even Deputy Governor, Segun Adesegun has not told anybody he has moved to Social Democratic Party (SDP), as being bandied. When he was asked whether he has decamped, he said he still belongs to the party his leader belongs which is APC. And who is his leader? It’s Osoba. So, our position has always been clear on this.”
Asked to shed light on the chances of APC winning comfortably in the next guber poll and other elections in the state, he stated, “No matter the gang-up against Amosun by some people, he will still win in 2015. APC remains a party to beat in the state and the country as a whole.
“APC’s victory in Ogun State has nothing to do with the law maker or senators that defected recently to PDP or SDP. Their case is like that of a dog that went back to its vomit. Most of them were in PDP before joining ACN then. They crossed to ACN when they discovered that we’re winning. So, we can’t feel their exit from the party. As far as I am concerned, Amosun’s victory is non-negotiable. He will still return as governor of the state via free, fair and credible elections. He is loved by the good people of Ogun State, and they are all working very hard for his success in the forthcoming elections so that he can complete his laudable and people oriented projects in the state.
However, ENCOMIUM Weekly also reached out to the Deputy Governor, Adesegun on Sunday, November 16, 2014, via his Chief Press Secretary, Kolade Lanrewaju on the lingering crisis and the alleged defection of his boss to the newly formed SDP, and he reacted, “I don’t have the mandate to speak on his behalf when it comes to party issues or whether he has defected or he is defecting or not. If he is defecting to any political party, I believe he should be the one to announce that formally, not what some people may be saying.
“Those lawmakers that decamped recently announced their defection at the floor of the House. So, he will also do the same if he is defecting.
On the issue of the cars allegedly collected by the Deputy Governor from PDP stalwart, Buruji Kashamu, Lanrewaju said, “There is no iota of truth in it. It’s baseless. Maybe those who want to make cheap publicity out of nothing were the one peddling the rumour. So, it’s a non-issue.”
Corroborating Lanrewaju’s submission on this, Buruji’s media aide, Austen Oniyokor also expressed dissatisfaction about the story, claiming it’s only being sponsored by those looking for a way of nailing the deputy governor, who has already been accused by his party of hob-nobbing with Buruji.
“It’s all rumour. Such a thing never happened between Buruji and Adesegun. Although, both of them are like brothers, they are from the same political zone. Buruji is from Ijebu-Igbo, while Adesegun is from Ago Iwoye but they belong to different political parties. So, the issue of Buruji buying cars for Adesegun or paying his electricity bill is meaningless and unfounded.”
Asked to comment on the rumoured plan by PDP to come up with a consensus candidate of Egba extraction, and likelihood of the party wrestling power from the ruling APC in 2015, he explained, “There is nothing like a pre-arrangement to present a consensus candidate for 2015 guber election in Ogun State. All aspirants will go for primary election, coming up on December 6, 2014. Whoever emerges victorious among the aspirants will represent the party in the governorship election. And to tell you the truth, there is no crisis within the party about that.
“Also, on the chances of PDP taking power from APC, that’s very certain going by the situation on ground at the moment. PDP will surely return to power in 2015. PDP is the only leading political party in Ogun State right now. The emergence of Amosun in 2011 as governor of the state was due to the division in PDP which led to the formation of PFN. And all those in the then PFN are back in PDP today. Labour Party has also come to PDP. We are all now working for a common goal which is to ensure that Amosun’s administration ends in 2015. And this can only be achieved under one common umbrella of Amosun Must Go (AMG).”
This was also corroborated by OGD media aide, Steve Oliyide, “No crisis in PDP over any issue. Our goal is one, and that’s to send Amosun away in 2015. Almost everybody in Ogun State wants that achieved come 2015.”
– TADE ASIFAT
