A meeting convened by the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George, on Wednesday, to address the internal crisis of the party could not achieve its intended aim as a former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, shunned the meeting.
Obanikoro, who is also aspiring to be governor, is said to be at loggerheads with another aspirant, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, who is rumoured to have the support of George and a former Minister of Works, Chief Adeseye Ogunlewe.
It was learnt that apart from Obanikoro, another aspirant, Adedeji Doherty, was also absent from the meeting which lasted for about four hours.
It was learnt that aspirants present at the meeting were: Agbaje, Babatunde Gbadamosi, Adegbola Dominic, Tokunbo Kamson and Ms. Modupe Chukwuneke.
One of the aspirants told our correspondent that George urged the aspirants to work together and not expose the party’s weaknesses to the opposition by insulting one another.
The source said, “Chief George said we should all work together before and after the primary. He said that anyone that continued to help the party even after losing out at the primary would not be neglected.
“He also gave a warning to moles in the party that if they did not leave, he would not only expose them but ensure that they were disgraced. He said we should all be united and be focused on our common rival which is the All progressives Congress.”
When contacted on the telephone, the Publicity Secretary of the state chapter of the PDP, Mr. Taofik Gani, confirmed that Obanikoro was absent.
He, however, said that the party would give Obanikoro and Doherty the benefit of the doubt by assuming that their absence was unavoidable.
Gani, however, said if the absence was deliberate, then it was condemnable.
He said, “It is the take of the party that it was not deliberate. However, if it was deliberate, then it is most unfortunate because it does not portray a good show of sportsmanship.
“It also implies that if they don’t get the party ticket next month, then they will not work for the success of the party. If at this stage, they are saying the referee will not be fair even when the game has not been played, I think it is wrong.
“The Lagos PDP also seizes the opportunity to warn PDP leaders outside the state to stop interfering in the affairs of the Lagos PDP by giving false hope to aspirants.”
Source: Punch
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