Anything Lagos stands the chance of stirring national interest in Nigeria. A table-topping agenda of the ruling People’s Democratic Party,(PDP) is the capture of Lagos for the first time since the return to democratic governance in 1999. Today, the party chooses its Lagos state’s governorship candidate and Saturday Tribune’s NEWTON RAY UKWUOMA reports that the stage is set for an explosive duel of a contestant against the overlords. Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro says he has three formidable forces to contend with in today’s governorship primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos state. Obanikoro will slug it out with Jimi Agbaje for the gubernatorial ticket but the former Nigerian ambassador to Ghana has told Saturday Tribune that while he relies on his supporters among the delegates, there had been grand plans by two godfathers of PDP to frustrate his ambition and ensure his opponent clinches the ticket. “As a matter of fact and you can quote me on this, I do not have business with Agbaje,” Obanikoro told Saturday Tribune on Thursday. “As far as this election is concerned, I am contesting against Bode George and Senator (Adeseye) Ogunlewe,” he added. Saturday Tribune gathered that the pro-Agbaje group, led by George and Ogunlewe, had long-term misunderstanding with Obanikoro whom they believe had no clout to win the state for PDP. “He is an original AD (Alliance for Democracy) man. He only joined the PDP for the spoils of office. If indeed we want to capture Lagos and save the state from the grip of APC, then a truly PDP person should be given the ticket,” said a source. Replying, Kayode Bawala, the Chief of Staff to Obanikoro is governorship campaign said that politically, Agbaje is the more ‘travelled’ of the two contestants. “He has been in and out of the AD,DPA, Labour Party looking for automatic tickets without success, he has never contested an election,’’ Bawala asserted. While noting that Obanikoro was from the AD, Bawala said only a former AD person like his principal, knows how to root APC out of Lagos. Bode George, a former Deputy national chairman of the PDP openly supports a faction that believes Agbaje should be handed the ticket because he is a new blood with no controversy hanging on his neck. In fact, the George-led group did everything to stop Obanikoro from making it to the primaries, by raising a three-man committee to petition the national secretariat to prove a case of breach of gentleman’s agreement. “Obanikoro is expected to stick to his ministerial post and let the PDP field a credible man in Jimi Agbaje for the governorship race; it is a gentleman agreement he broke,” the source added. However, Obanikoro informed Saturday Tribune that nothing of such existed revealing that he had President Goodluck Jonathan’s blessing in dropping his ministerial post in pursuit of governorship ambition, a claim George faulted. “President Jonathan was here with us in Lagos and said nothing about Obanikoro telling him he was quitting as minister to run for guber race. It is his own personal ambition and he will be defeated flatly at the primaries,’ George stressed. Another group also believes Obanikoro stands a slender chance being a muslim as a faction in the PDP wants a christian to confront and challenge the authority of APC led by Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a muslim. “I dismiss such suggestion,’ Obanikoro reacted. “My slogan ‘Greater Lagos’ sees far ahead of religious sentiments. I want a dream state in Lagos and I am sure there are quite a lot of Lagosians-muslims or christians- who believe in my grassroots popularity.’’ He foresees tension at today’s primaries and had written to the national chairman of the party, Adamu Muazu, asking him to curb alleged excessive behaviour of George and his supporters which they exhibited at last weekend’s ward Congresses. “PDP needs a free and fair primary that is devoid of Bode George’s undue interference as seen during the ward congresses,’ Obanikoro wrote. However as the two factions flex muscles, Lagosians feel that the situation that reflected at the end of last Saturday’s ward congresses may go a long way in dertermining the outcome of today’s primaries. While both factions claim upper hand or abnormalies in the conduct of the ward congress, Saturday Tribune got in touch with the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, Lagos office, to obtain a duly certified result sheet. Agege: Obanikoro (1), Agbaje (0); Ajeromi Ifelodun: Obanikoro (1), Agbaje (1); Alimosho: Obanikoro (2), Agbaje (0); Amuwo: Obanikoro (0), Agbaje (2); Apapa: Obanikoro (2), Agbaje (0); Badagary: Obanikoro (1), Agbaje (1); Epe: Obanikoro (1), Agbaje (1); Eti-Osa: Obanikoro (2), Agbaje (0); Ibeju-Lekki: Obanikoro (0), Agbaje (2); Ifako-Ijaiye: Obanikoro (1), Agbaje (1); Ikeja: Obanikoro (2), Agbaje (0); Ikorodu: Obanikoro (2), Agbaje (0); Kosofe: Obanikoro (0), Agbaje (2); Lagos Mainland: Obanikoro (1), Agbaje (1); Mushin: Obanikoro (2), Agbaje (0); Ojo: Obanikoro (1), Agbaje (0), Others (1); Oshodi-Isolo: Obanikoro (1), Agbaje (1); Somolu: Obanikoro (1), Agbaje (1); Surulere: Obanikoro (2), Agbaje (0). Others (1). Agege Constituency 2 was inconclusive for a total of 40 assembly candidates. Total: Obanikoro (24), Agbaje (14)
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 05:08:15 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015