14th October, 2010
In order to resolve the lingering political crisis in Ogun State, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has met with notable political leaders of Peoples Democratic Party in the state, including members of the G15 legislators.
Confirming the meeting to P.M.NEWS, a member of G15, Hon. Adijat Olaleye, representing Ifo constituency 2 in the state House of Assembly, said the meeting was held at Obasanjo Farms, Ota.
The legislator revealed that the meeting was called to resolve the crisis in the party and move the state forward.
P.M.NEWS learnt further that the meeting was called by Obasanjo to resolve the dispute which arose following Governor Gbenga Daniel’s decision to contest for the Senate in the 2011 elections.
“The reconciliation meeting has nothing to do with the issue of approving the candidature of Tunji Olurin as the governorship candidate of the party in the next election as reported by some newspapers. Baba (Obasanjo) said all lawmakers wishing to return to the House should be given the chance. He said all those that have served twice and wished to move up should also be considered. That was Baba’s submission.
”What the papers wrote was a lie. What Baba told us was that the Olubara of Ibara brought Olurin to him and he was not compelling us to endorse him. We were not alone with Baba at that meeting. Political leaders across the state were in attendance, including some serving lawmakers from Abuja,” she disclosed.
P.M.NEWS also gathered that the political leader of the zone, Sen. Jubril Martins Kuye, Minister of Commerce and Industry who was also present at the meeting which lasted over six hours told the gathering that he cannot ask Sen. Lekan Mustapha to step down for Otunba Gbenga Daniel for the Ogun East Senatorial District ticket, adding that both of them should slug it out for the ticket.
Present at the meeting were Sen. Lekan Mustapha, Sen. Jubril Martins-Kuye, Chief Buruji Kashamu, Mogaji Dele Ajayi and notable politicians from the Ogun East Senatorial District. Otunba Gbenga Daniel was absent.
—Abiodun Onafuye