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Own Up to Your Mistakes , Daniel
tells Obasanjo ,others
By Danlami Nmodu
Newsdiaryonline Sun Sep 4,2011
In what is obviously a reply to General Olusegun Obasanjo ( BOT
Cairman) and other chieftains of the PDP in the South West,
former Governor of Ogun
state Gbenga Daniel has asked the party chiefs to own up to
their mistakes which led to the defeat of the party in the state
in particular and the
region at large.
“Rather than own up to their
mistakes and grave error of judgement which effectively
scuttled the chances of the party during the last election in
Ogun and the
southwest, these men are still engaged
in activities that would further erode party discipline and
deepen the division
within its rank and file” Daniel said today in statement signed
by Adegbenro Adebanjo ,media aide to the former governor.
It was evidently
his reaction to the statement made by Obasanjo
at a PDP meeting in
Abeokuta when party chiefs blamed
Daniel for the failures of the party in the state .
“As much as I agree with the suggestions that
we must allow those who had strayed to return to the party, I
want to caution that we must not totally forget the past because
evildoers will never rescind from their bad deeds,” Obasanjo
said
In an indirect reference
to Daniel, Obasanjo said : “Those who misbehaved last year, if
you say we should forgive them totally, they will do worse
things next year. But those who have shown remorse should be
allowed back into the party. But there are some that what they
did was so bad that by the grace of God, I will never be in the
same party with them for the rest of my life.’’
Daniel’s reply today titled:
“Count Me Out Of Misfortune Of PDP
South West” said,
“Ordinarily we would not have responded to the statement
credited to some individuals during the
PDP southwest zonal meeting held in Abeokuta on saturday
september 3 2011 where they attempted to blame Otunba Gbenga
Daniel , former Governor of Ogun State
for the misfortune of the party
during the last general
elections. However for the sake of posterity we
are obliged to make the
following clarification.
“It is actually an irony
that these persons who by their actions and inaction were solely
responsible for the poor showing
of the party could have the effrontery
to blame others for
their misadventure . Under their watch the party
rose from number one in
the zone to number zero not just at the
elections but in terms
of national political appointments in the country. Rather
than advancing the cause of the party at every turn they
place personal gains and
primordial sentiments
above the collective good
of the generality of party members.
They were always ready to dine
with the devil if that would help destroy their perceived
opponents within the
party. In spite of their vantage position as national
officers of the party ,
they were never involved in the resolution of
crisis but were actually
responsible for stoking the embers of dis unity within the party
“Discerning Nigerians would recall that before
the advent of Otunba
Daniel in the party , the PDP in Ogun State was
rudder less. And could
not make any major impact during local and National
elections. And since 2003 when Otunba Daniel , as the leader of
the party, repositioned
it the party won all contested positions in the 2003 2007
general elections . The same feat was repeated during the local
government elections in the state.
“The fortune of the party began to nosedive when these
individuals took positions that were at variance with the wishes
and aspirations of party members in the state and
the South west. They supported individuals who worked
against the constitution of the party. And used their positions
as national officers of the party to
protect these erring members from being sanctioned for
their
misdemeanours. This
led to the collapse of party discipline and emergence of various
factions which these individuals patronised and set against duly
elected state officers of the party in flagrant
disobedience to party rules and ethics.
“It is also an open secret that this same individuals who played
to the gallery in Abeokuta colluded with some elements and
anti. Democratic forces to thwart the internal democracy of the
party , subvert the electoral process during the primaries by
holding sham congresses in their private homes and also
imposed unpopular individuals as party candidates
. This is what led to the defeat of the party in Ogun.
State and other parts of the southwest.
From their utterances at the Abeokuta meeting it is clear
that these individuals are not ready for reconciliation.
“Rather than own up to their
mistakes and grave error of judgement which effectively
scuttled the chances of the party during the last election in
Ogun and the
southwest, these men are still engaged
in activities that would further erode party discipline and
deepen the division
within its rank and file.All genuine lovers
of the party should call
these men to order before they completely
destroy the PDP in Ogun
state and the entire southwest
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