A 2 days visit to Ogun state by president Goodluck Jonathan.Olayinka Oyebode wrote an article on the aftermath of the visit.Read through bellow.Your comments are much important.The article is titled:
Ogun PDP, after the President’s visit
The President and major stakeholders in the crisis after the breakfast meeting.Contrary to the expectation of many members of the party, the last visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Ogun State, failed to address the lingering crisis in the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Stakeholders contend that the visit left the party more fractured than ever, writes Assistant Editor OLAYINKA OYEBODE.
The President came,
saw , but failed to reconcile…” This is the way a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) summed up the two-day official visit of President Goodluck Jonathan
to Ogun State, which ended last Saturday.
saw , but failed to reconcile…” This is the way a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) summed up the two-day official visit of President Goodluck Jonathan
to Ogun State, which ended last Saturday.
By design, it was a working visit, but many had expected that it would serve
a dual purpose of state visit and electioneering for the 2011 general elections.
a dual purpose of state visit and electioneering for the 2011 general elections.
With that in mind, expectation was high that the President, as leader of the
party, would use the opportunity of the visit to wade into the lingering factional
crisis that has worsened the lot of the ruling party in the state. But, it appears the President had a different idea about the depth of the crisis or as some analyst
share said, a carefully drafted script by the state government tactfully downplayed
the crisis. Thus, the President left without actually showing his hand.
party, would use the opportunity of the visit to wade into the lingering factional
crisis that has worsened the lot of the ruling party in the state. But, it appears the President had a different idea about the depth of the crisis or as some analyst
share said, a carefully drafted script by the state government tactfully downplayed
the crisis. Thus, the President left without actually showing his hand.
While the development was seen as victory for the faction of the party loyal to Governor Gbenga Daniel, to the other faction of the party led by Chief Dayo Soremi, it was like a punch below the belt, as they were left in the cold.
Whereas both the visitor and the chief host tried hard to play down the reality
of the factional crisis in the state chapter, which has pitched some major
stakeholders in the party against the governor, the reality of the situation,
stared them in the face at intervals.
The President had intervened at the wake of the state House of Assembly crisis
but failed to resolve the emergence of two Speakers for the Assembly. The two
Speakers featured in different aspects of the visit, a development that compounded
the jobs of the compere at some of the events.
but failed to resolve the emergence of two Speakers for the Assembly. The two
Speakers featured in different aspects of the visit, a development that compounded
the jobs of the compere at some of the events.
While Mr Soyemi Coker featured in many of the events in his capacity as “Speaker”
of a faction of the House of Assembly known as the G11, an attempt to formally
introduce him as the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly during the
public square meeting was rebuffed by a cross section of the audience. The
development took some shine off the event.
of a faction of the House of Assembly known as the G11, an attempt to formally
introduce him as the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly during the
public square meeting was rebuffed by a cross section of the audience. The
development took some shine off the event.
The Speaker of the Assembly, also known as leader of the G15, Mr. Tunji
Egbetokun, had no roles in any of the events. He, however, had his day during
the breakfast meeting the President had with some political bigwigs at the Hill Top residence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday morning. The
former President to whom the G15 lawmakers are loyal, was said to have ensured
that Egbetokun was not only present, but also played a role at the meeting,
which had in attendance the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Dimeji Bankole, PDP National Vice Chairman, Southwest, Chief Tajudeen Oladipo,
Senator Iyabo Obasanjo- Bello among others.
Egbetokun, had no roles in any of the events. He, however, had his day during
the breakfast meeting the President had with some political bigwigs at the Hill Top residence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday morning. The
former President to whom the G15 lawmakers are loyal, was said to have ensured
that Egbetokun was not only present, but also played a role at the meeting,
which had in attendance the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Dimeji Bankole, PDP National Vice Chairman, Southwest, Chief Tajudeen Oladipo,
Senator Iyabo Obasanjo- Bello among others.
Again, at the breakfast meeting where the main gladiators of the PDP crisis mingled freely, over plates of food, the issue of the crisis rocking the state chapter was never muted.
A source at the meeting said that the President deliberately avoided the discussion
on the crisis in order not to be seen as taking side with any of the parties. But,
Obasanjo’s choice of Egbetokun to grace the occasion, was said to be his own
subtle way of communicating to the President his preference on the speakership
of the Ogun Assembly.
on the crisis in order not to be seen as taking side with any of the parties. But,
Obasanjo’s choice of Egbetokun to grace the occasion, was said to be his own
subtle way of communicating to the President his preference on the speakership
of the Ogun Assembly.
Many believe that Dr Jonathan could not claim not to know which side the
ex-President belongs, as his intervention had been sought when the crisis started.
But, the President had, upon receiving delegates from both sides urged them
to go back home and resolve their differences.
Aside the non representation of the other faction in the various events, what
also irked the Soremi-led group is the claim that money was reportedly made
available for the sallah celebration. According to sources, the amount was for
the purchase of ram and other food materials, while a part was set aside for
distribution on ward basis. But, many of the leaders of the Soremi faction said
they were left out of the deal.
also irked the Soremi-led group is the claim that money was reportedly made
available for the sallah celebration. According to sources, the amount was for
the purchase of ram and other food materials, while a part was set aside for
distribution on ward basis. But, many of the leaders of the Soremi faction said
they were left out of the deal.
A spokesman for the Stakeholders Forum, a group opposed to Governor Daniel,
Chief Babtunde Fadun, said the failure of the President to use the opportunity
of the visit to wade into the crisis, has the potential to escalate it, a development
which he
said could injure the party’s preparation for the 2011 election.
Chief Babtunde Fadun, said the failure of the President to use the opportunity
of the visit to wade into the crisis, has the potential to escalate it, a development
which he
said could injure the party’s preparation for the 2011 election.
According to Fadun, who insisted that leaders of the party who were not in good
book of Daniel , were tactically sidelined in the various ceremonies, it was clear
that the President had the impression that Daniel was the alpha and omega in
Ogun politics. He said this would be a very wrong calculation, adding that only
a united PDP could make an appreciable impact in the elections holding next year.
Fadun said, “ I had expected that the President would review the situation,
since he is aware that all is not well in the state chapter. The impression of a
few party leaders is that Daniel is capable of single-handedly making things
happen in Ogun. But, the fact is Daniel alone cannot sponsor candidates and
win the election in the state.
since he is aware that all is not well in the state chapter. The impression of a
few party leaders is that Daniel is capable of single-handedly making things
happen in Ogun. But, the fact is Daniel alone cannot sponsor candidates and
win the election in the state.
“At one stage or the other, something has to be done to take care of the party’s interest. Because whether we like it or not, there are factions within the party. Many people are advocating harmonisation of the factions and the congresses. But, it appears that is being ignored.”
Fadun said if the PDP is desirous of winning Ogun in the next election, there is
need to take another look at the crisis rocking the state chapter. The Assembly
crisis and the factionalisation of the party, according to him, are issues that should
be revisisted before the elections.
need to take another look at the crisis rocking the state chapter. The Assembly
crisis and the factionalisation of the party, according to him, are issues that should
be revisisted before the elections.
But the Director of publicity of the Ogun PDP, Mr Deji Kalejaiye, insisted that
the issue of factions in the party only exist in the imagination of a few. He said
the state PDP is not divided, adding that only the leadership of Chief Joju Fadairo
is recognised.
the issue of factions in the party only exist in the imagination of a few. He said
the state PDP is not divided, adding that only the leadership of Chief Joju Fadairo
is recognised.
Kalejaiye argued that harmonisation does not arise. “we don’t have factions in
PDP and I don’t know how you want to carry out harmonisation within a legally constituted exco.”, he said.
PDP and I don’t know how you want to carry out harmonisation within a legally constituted exco.”, he said.
Commenting on the President’s visit and the allegation that the governor’s faction
turned it to their show, Kalejaiye said “as far as the visit was concerned , no
genuine member of the PDP was sidelined”
turned it to their show, Kalejaiye said “as far as the visit was concerned , no
genuine member of the PDP was sidelined”
Kalejaiye said: “As far as we are concerned , the president came to Ogun on a state
visit. He came to commission projects undertaken by Governor Daniel’s
administration, and it will be difficult to put everybody in the programme.
” He also said that the various events were open to members of the public and
that those saying they were sidelined were being economical with the truth.
visit. He came to commission projects undertaken by Governor Daniel’s
administration, and it will be difficult to put everybody in the programme.
” He also said that the various events were open to members of the public and
that those saying they were sidelined were being economical with the truth.
The fear in some quarters is that since the leader of the party has chosen to ignore
the crisis rocking the state, the party would be at the mercy of the governor when
crucial decisions are to be made. The fear is reinforced by the belief that President Jonathan seems to have a great regard for the governor, who is the coordinator of his presidential campaign in the Southwest.
the crisis rocking the state, the party would be at the mercy of the governor when
crucial decisions are to be made. The fear is reinforced by the belief that President Jonathan seems to have a great regard for the governor, who is the coordinator of his presidential campaign in the Southwest.
As pointed out by a chieftain of the party , Mr Shehu Bankole –Hammed, the
Ogun PDP situation has the capacity to spell doom for the party if not well tackled. Bankole –Hammed, who is a senatorial aspirant of the party for Ogun East, said
the coordination role of Governor Daniel in President Jonathan’s campaign,
should not be the basis for the party to be handed over to him. To him, the failure
of the president’s visit to address the situation, smacks of lack of regard for the
views of others.
Ogun PDP situation has the capacity to spell doom for the party if not well tackled. Bankole –Hammed, who is a senatorial aspirant of the party for Ogun East, said
the coordination role of Governor Daniel in President Jonathan’s campaign,
should not be the basis for the party to be handed over to him. To him, the failure
of the president’s visit to address the situation, smacks of lack of regard for the
views of others.
He said it is risky for the members of the party to remain at war with one another
few months to the election. “How are we going to elect our candidates. How are
we going to campaign as a party. I think these are the questions we should be
asking now, but somehow nobody seems to be bothered.”, he added.
few months to the election. “How are we going to elect our candidates. How are
we going to campaign as a party. I think these are the questions we should be
asking now, but somehow nobody seems to be bothered.”, he added.
Already, the governorship contest is one of the major issues to be determined by the state chapter. While Chief Obasanjo is said to be rooting for former ECOMOG Commander, Gen Adetunji Olurin, Daniel is said to have his preference for Gboyega Isiaka, one of the key appointees in his administration. The governor is also said to be interested in the party’s ticket for the Ogun on East senatorial seat.
The need to cede the party’s governorship ticket to the Yewa division of the state seems to have been settled. But both Obasanjo and Daniel are said to be interested in the ticket and are keen on having their men as the party’s standard bearer in the governorship contest. This, coupled with the unresolved issue of factionalisation, has fueled the belief that there might be parallel congresses.
The two factions, had in separate meetings at different locations in Abeokuta on Sunday, reviewed the visit of the president . while the governor’s faction is said to have
applauded what it termed its demonstrated upper hand in the quest for recognition, the other
faction is said to have mapped out ways to even the score. More meetings are
expected to hold during the sallah holiday, with each factions mapping out new strategies.
applauded what it termed its demonstrated upper hand in the quest for recognition, the other
faction is said to have mapped out ways to even the score. More meetings are
expected to hold during the sallah holiday, with each factions mapping out new strategies.
With one of the factions pushing and another pulling, analysts are of the opinion
that the Ogun PDP crisis, might end up as a game of football that start without a referee,
which has the potential to end without the ball.
that the Ogun PDP crisis, might end up as a game of football that start without a referee,
which has the potential to end without the ball.
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