5th September, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Former Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole has dismissed rumours that he will be contesting for the governorship seat next year on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state.
There’s been rumours making the rounds in the last five months that the former Speaker was eyeing the Oke Mosan seat with his posters seen all across the state.
Bankole told party members who had gathered in their thousands at the party secretariat, along IBB Boluevard, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta that he has no governorship ambition.
He disclosed that the hard experience of the party, PDP in the state during the 2011 elections had compelled party members to unite and reconcile ahead of 2015.
He stressed that he has begun moves to broker peace and reconcile aggrieved members of the party in the state.
While addressing party members, who had anxiously waited for him at the party secretariat, Bankole hinted that the PDP had been mobilising members across the state for the forthcoming Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) distribution by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as part of effort to boost PDP’s political chance in 2015 general elections.
With reference to 2011 election, Bankole said disunity and misunderstanding were the key factors that were responsible for the failure.
“Of course, we are not the only party with issues, we have learnt our lessons in a very hard way, especially, with the results of the last elections in 2011. We don’t wish that to happen to us again, that is why some of us are going round the state to make sure that we reconcile as many members as possible.
However, a source who was part of an inner caucus meeting which the former Speaker and state executive members of the party revealed that the former Speaker was at the party secretariat to perfect moves for his declaration as the party’s governorship candidate in the state for 2015.
Earlier this week, the state chairman of PDP, Engr. Bayo Dayo had disclosed that the party had not anointed any candidate for the governorship seat in the state.
But the source told our correspondent in confidence that, the party leadership has chosen Bankole to be the party flag bearer, although it did not want to impose him on the party.
“I know Dimeji Bankole is going to be anointed by the PDP executives and members in the state. What you see today confirms the fact that the former Speaker is ready to declare for the state governorship, that is why you can see him today to perfect moves”, the source said.
A close ally to the former Speaker informed our correspondent that Bankole relied solely on the Presidency to push his candidature in the state, thus making his ambition a reality.
“He is relying on the Presidency, we are just trying to thrash out one or two grey areas, as soon as those ones have been cleared, we will let you know. But, I can confirm to you that all what happened here today was scripted from above and on the issue of declaration,it is not yet time, when we get to the bridge,we will cross it,for now,it is underground work with more posters flooding the town soon”, one of the former Speaker’s aides confided in our correspondent.
About five people are aspiring for the governorship seat in the State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
They are the former deputy governor in the State under Osoba,who just defected to PDP from APC, Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye, former Chairman, Info local government council, Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele, former Commissioner of Environment in the State, Engr. Tony Ojesina, former Chairman,Obafemi Owode local government council, Engr. Akeem Adesina and a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Ipokia/ Yea South Federal Constituency, who has just defected to PDP from the All Progressives Congress, APC, Hon. Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade.