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Some elders of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in Ogun West Senatorial District have petitioned the
national chairman of the party, Okwesilieze Nwodo, asking him to
intervene in the issue of the alleged imposition of Isiaka Gboyega by
the state governor, Gbenga Daniel, as the gubernatorial aspirant under
the ticket of the party.

The elders, who rejected Mr Gboyega’s
ambition, alleged he was imposed by Mr Daniel in connivance with
members of the PDP Ogun West Apex Council, which they said was
constituted by the governor for the purpose.

Among those who signed the petition
were Kayode Adeyemi, Saka Adeoti, Kayode Kudoro, Wale Jimoh, Bola
Amusan, Remi Oladapo, Tunde Olorode, Bisi Olatunji, Sunday Adeosun,
Bisi Olaoye and Kudirat Badmus.

They said that the members of the
council, which included Salamatu Badru (deputy governor), Boye
Adeshina, Bisi Popoola, Ayo Otegbola, Matilda Apampa and Bolaji Aretola
hold different positions in Mr Daniel’s administration and are the
governor’s stooges willing to dance to illicit, anti-party whims and
caprices.

They said the governor’s action was capable of foisting electoral disaster on PDP Ogun State in the 2011 elections.

Aggrieved leaders

“We are aggrieved party leaders and
concerned eminent citizens of Peoples Democratic Party from Ogun West
Senatorial District of Ogun State and we vehemently oppose and condemn
the illegal imposition of Ma Isiaka Gboyega by Otunba Gbenga Daniel,
the Executive Governor of Ogun State as the gubernatorial aspirant
under the ticket of PDP in connivance with PDP Ogun West Apex Council,”
the petition stated.

“Moreover, it is common knowledge that
the said Apex council was constituted by Otunba Gbenga Daniel and
virtually all the six members are currently serving in the various
parastatals of Ogun State and are on the payroll of Otunba Gbenga
Daniel’s administration.” They said their rejection of Mr Gboyega as
the party’s gubernatorial candidate are necessitated by the facts that
he is the current managing director of Gateway Holdings Limited and is
currently facing various charges of financial misappropriation of
public funds before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They also said that their zone is
blessed with seasoned, experienced and dynamic talents such as Lekan
Ojo, Tunji Olurin and Kola Bajomo, stressing that these are some of the
people who can salvage the state from its present sordid and deplorable
condition.

Blameless Daniel

However, Aliyu Nurudeen, a media aide
to the governor, denied the elders’ allegation, saying he (governor)
was not involved in the ambition of Mr Gboyega.

“It is an Ogun West issue,” Mr Nurudeen said in a telephone interview yesterday.

“The governor has nothing to do with it. He has no hand in it. Let
the PDP national leadership call him and he will explain to them. In
any case, they are free to write a petition.”