*As Waziri urges S/West to put its house in order
Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Wednesday formally indicated his intention to contest for the National Chairmanship of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with a vow to work towards reducing corruption if elected.
The election national convention of the PDP is slated to hold on December 9, this year.
The National Chairmanship position of the PDP has been zoned to the southern part of the country, while the North is to produce the presidential flag bearer of the opposition party for the 2019 general elections.
Otunba Daniel, who is popularly called OGD, in his address titled, ” Let’s Start Afresh….Together We Can Do It”, pointed out that if elected as the National Chairman, the new PDP leadership under his watch will keep working towards reducing corruption, but using a different strategy.
According to him, “Rather than fight other arms of Government, we will promote national integration. I want to be a leader not just the National Chairman of the PDP. My role is more important than my title”.
The former Governor of Ogun State, declared that a new PDP leadership, under him, is going to fight Poverty like never before, adding, “The judiciary, legislative or several unhappy people are not our enemies. We have a common enemy in ‘failed promises’; a common enemy in ‘poverty’, a common enemy in ‘high interest and inflation rates; which, by the way, is not interesting.”
In the words of Otunba Daniel, “I stand here before you today, as a loyal party man who desires the best for our great party, the PDP. I have done informed study of the myriad of problems which confronted our political party in the last few years, especially the one which had cost us several electoral victories since 2011 and most especially the Presidency in 2015.
“I have come to the conclusion that the challenges which face our political party are not permanent. They could be rectified through a careful deployment of resources, the willpower and ability to work through difficult situations, concession and compromises if need be, and ability to move all our people into one disciplined accord on all matters”, he stressed.
The former Governor of Ogun State equally threw his weight behind the clamour for restructuring of the country, saying, “Rethinking Nigeria means our new PDP will focus on what works and less on what is failing. Added to that is what ought to work that is failing. In practical terms, we are already in a ‘State of emergency’ in Poverty. The APC blames the PDP without cross checking the facts; stopping the policeman from collecting bribe is a good achievement, but does that improve his policing skills?”
In his goodwill message at the ceremony, former minister of police affairs, Alhaji Adamu Waziri, urged the South-west stakeholders to put their house in order so that they can produce the next chairman of the party.
Waziri said “If for any reason Gbenga Daniels, does not become the chairman it is the South west that is losing. If for any reason the South west does not produce the chairman it is the south west that is losing.
“I for one I don’t believe it is the right thing for our party. While I wish the best chairmanship material soulful come from the south west, the south west must do a SWOT analysis and reduce the risk of losing to one person.
“The right tone for our party is to lay a strong base for returning to power in 2019 is to have chairman from south west. That is my well considered opinion. That is not saying no other person can aspirant can contest.
But the success we expect is a choice of well thought out chairman and executives at the national convention.
“I stand before to request that we make OGD the national chairman. We must join the effort that is require to get the south west to put their thinking cap to get the delegates to support them at the national convention.
So that south west will take its rightful place in PDP and Nigeria in 2019.”
Speaking also, former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, said while he has respect for all the aspirants, Daniel’s record stands him out. “He is loyal party man. He is clear and focused.”
On his part, former minister of state for works, Alhaji Shehu Saleh, urged support for the former governor, saying he is one person that can move mountains and make things happen in the party.
“He is the right person, the most qualified in terms of experience in party management and governance.”
Former minister John Odey, said they are thankful to God that the party now has an opportunity to choose their leaders.
“The time is now to choose our leaders from grassroot to the top and top to grassroots. Every politics in cross Rivers is local. We will go back home consult and discuss we will all come back as a group.”
Former national chairman of National Democratic Party (NDP) Habu Fari who gave a welcome address, said the essence of the gathering was “not just about election but Change of generation..”
This is the change that will change the change. We will continue to work hard so that we will win.
He added that the emergence of the former governor will “bring sanity and return the party to how it started.”
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