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Embattled Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel,
yesterday said that the booing he got from the crowd during the
presidential campaign rally of the People’s Democratic Party in
Abeokuta over the weekend, was a premeditated plan sponsored by his
political enemies within the party. Although Mr. Daniel has reached a
compromise with his major foe and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo,
it seems as though the Ogun state governor still remains a despised
figure within the party. Even though he was the host governor, Mr.
Daniel was not even allowed to make a speech or given any official role
to play by the state chapter of the party at the rally which took place
at the 35,000-capacity Moshood Abiola Stadium. After weeks of fighting,
Mr. Daniel, last Friday, recognised Tunji Olurin as the candidate of
the party in the state. Some of Mr. Daniel’s supporters, including his
favoured governorship candidate, Gboyega Isiaka, defected from the PDP
to join the People’s Party of Nigeria, but their plans also foundered
as the INEC refused to substitute their names with those earlier
forwarded by the party. Mr. Daniel has also had to shelve his
senatorial ambition, as his name was not on the list of candidates
approved by INEC.

Enemy turned friend

Mr. Obasanjo had to step in to plead for the state
governor, advising party members to show respect for the Ogun governor
despite whatever misgivings they might have about him. But Mr. Daniel,
in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Gbenro Adebanjo, yesterday
said investigations had shown that those who carried out the act were
hired.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we want to put it on
record that there was nothing spontaneous about the disrespectful act
to the person and office of the governor of Ogun State,” the statement
read. “It was a premeditated act by sponsors of the ignoble act who,
having failed to get Mr. Daniel not to attend the event, decided to
embarrass him at the venue. They had hired some undesirable elements
mainly from outside the state and briefed them to heckle the governor
during the event.”

Opposition party reacts

The PPN also described the incident as a show of
shame by leaders of the PDP. Raheem Ajayi, the party’s publicity
secretary, said the insults meted out to the incumbent governor
justified “our recent action of leaving the PDP for a more decent and
democratic platform…”

Mr. Ajayi said that it was time all parties played
the politics of principles and decency to advance the present
democratic order.

“It is for this reason that we call on the PDP in Ogun State to
apologise to the governor, the government, as well as the good people
of Ogun State for the unruly behaviour of the rented crowd brought from
the neighbouring state,” he said.