Chief Olabode George
Nkiruka Okohae
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State appears set for another round of crisis as the party’s leader, Chief Olabode George, is said to have sold the idea of fielding the governorship candidate of Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) in the 2007 election, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, as the party’s standard bearer for the 2015 governorship election to President Goodluck Jonathan.
As a result this, George and some other PDP leaders are said to have firmed up plans with Agbaje to join the PDP as a first step to flying its flag in the election.
Sources told THISDAY that the idea behind the Agbaje candidacy was as a result of the clamour by some stakeholders in the polity to field a Christian candidate for once, pre-empting that it might be the joker that the ruling party, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) might want to use to sustain its winning streak in the state.
According to them, if the leaders’ choice candidate is the man who came a distant third in an election that Obanikoro came second, then, they are deliberately settling for less and do not have the interest of the party at heart.
Although the news of Agbaje’s likely defection to the PDP had gone on for a while with all concerned keeping sealed lips, indications however emerged at the weekend that the deal had been signed and sealed but waiting to be delivered.
THISDAY learnt at the weekend that the move recently got a boost when the new chairman of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr. Ezekiel Olajida Adeniji, fixed a meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and Agbaje with the understanding of George.
The need to have Agbaje join the PDP was said to be the thrust of the meeting with the President which was agreed on. But Agbaje who was wary of the ambition of the party’s candidate in the 2007 election, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, was said to have insisted that the only reason he could join the PDP was if he was assured of the party’s ticket for the election in 2015.
He was said to have kept asking the party leaders how they would handle Obanikoro’s case since he is as passionate about the governorship ambition such that would not outplay him in the equation.
But while the President was said to have received Agbaje warmly and encouraged him to be part of the ruling party, he was however not categorical in his response, bearing in mind the weight of his position, but promised a fair play in the choice of candidates in order not to aggravate the tense situation in the party.
Based on the partial success of the meeting and the encouraging assurances of the party leaders, Agbaje was said to have consented to the overtures to join the PDP and at a date the stakeholders are yet to agree on.
Besides, George was said to have already suggested as a possible running mate to Agbaje, a former aide to former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Bode Oyedele, giving an indication that the idea had been properly thought out and concluded even before the process for selection commences.
Interestingly, both George and his estranged friend, former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, are said to have been working independently on both the Christian agenda and the Agbaje candidacy even though they are both not in good terms.
Another person said to be privy to the Agbaje deal and also planning to return to PDP to work together with the team is the former Commissioner for Sports in the state, Mr. Ademola Adeniji-Adele.
Sources said plans have also been concluded for Adeniji-Adele to return to PDP and be part of the team to face the opposition in next election, counting on the fact that having worked with the ACN for about four years as a commissioner, he would understand some of their antics and work as an insider from the outside.
Unfortunately, supporters of Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who had long suspected the moves, have resolved to give the leadership a run for its money, citing absolute confidence in the ability of Obanikoro to contain the excesses of the opposition.
They cited amongst other reasons, the fact that Obanikoro tamed the ruling ACN during the local government election in the state where his son, Babajide, was allegedly robbed of victory as chairman of Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area of the state. Such success in a Lagos political environment, they contended, was no mean feat by an individual in the PDP when many others could not even win their wards in all of the elections.
Besides, those who are sympathetic to the plight of the PDP are worried about the emerging developments. They recalled the drama that led to the emergence of Obanikoro as PDP candidate in the 2007 election, saying the party appears not to have learnt any lesson.
“If at that time when the party leaders were still cracking with a president that bullied his way through everything, they could not defeat Obanikoro at the primary election, then, they would have it even tougher now that the party is sharply divided and parades greater number of moles,” the source said
Chief Olabode George
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State appears set for another round of crisis as the party’s leader, Chief Olabode George, is said to have sold the idea of fielding the governorship candidate of Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) in the 2007 election, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, as the party’s standard bearer for the 2015 governorship election to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Although the news of Agbaje’s likely defection to the PDP had gone on for a while with all concerned keeping sealed lips, indications however emerged at the weekend that the deal had been signed and sealed but waiting to be delivered.
THISDAY learnt at the weekend that the move recently got a boost when the new chairman of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr. Ezekiel Olajida Adeniji, fixed a meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and Agbaje with the understanding of George.
The need to have Agbaje join the PDP was said to be the thrust of the meeting with the President which was agreed on. But Agbaje who was wary of the ambition of the party’s candidate in the 2007 election, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, was said to have insisted that the only reason he could join the PDP was if he was assured of the party’s ticket for the election in 2015.
He was said to have kept asking the party leaders how they would handle Obanikoro’s case since he is as passionate about the governorship ambition such that would not outplay him in the equation.
But while the President was said to have received Agbaje warmly and encouraged him to be part of the ruling party, he was however not categorical in his response, bearing in mind the weight of his position, but promised a fair play in the choice of candidates in order not to aggravate the tense situation in the party.
Based on the partial success of the meeting and the encouraging assurances of the party leaders, Agbaje was said to have consented to the overtures to join the PDP and at a date the stakeholders are yet to agree on.
Besides, George was said to have already suggested as a possible running mate to Agbaje, a former aide to former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Bode Oyedele, giving an indication that the idea had been properly thought out and concluded even before the process for selection commences.
Interestingly, both George and his estranged friend, former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, are said to have been working independently on both the Christian agenda and the Agbaje candidacy even though they are both not in good terms.
Another person said to be privy to the Agbaje deal and also planning to return to PDP to work together with the team is the former Commissioner for Sports in the state, Mr. Ademola Adeniji-Adele.
Sources said plans have also been concluded for Adeniji-Adele to return to PDP and be part of the team to face the opposition in next election, counting on the fact that having worked with the ACN for about four years as a commissioner, he would understand some of their antics and work as an insider from the outside.
Unfortunately, supporters of Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who had long suspected the moves, have resolved to give the leadership a run for its money, citing absolute confidence in the ability of Obanikoro to contain the excesses of the opposition.
They cited amongst other reasons, the fact that Obanikoro tamed the ruling ACN during the local government election in the state where his son, Babajide, was allegedly robbed of victory as chairman of Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area of the state. Such success in a Lagos political environment, they contended, was no mean feat by an individual in the PDP when many others could not even win their wards in all of the elections.
Besides, those who are sympathetic to the plight of the PDP are worried about the emerging developments. They recalled the drama that led to the emergence of Obanikoro as PDP candidate in the 2007 election, saying the party appears not to have learnt any lesson.
“If at that time when the party leaders were still cracking with a president that bullied his way through everything, they could not defeat Obanikoro at the primary election, then, they would have it even tougher now that the party is sharply divided and parades greater number of moles,” the source said
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