Governor Gbenga Daniel yesterday appeared at the campaign rally of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) to stump for its candidates, including Gboyega Isiaka, its governorship candidate.
Although Daniel said he remains with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose governorship candidate is Gen. Adetunji Olurin, his action is an indication of the total breakdown of his truce with former-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Olurin yesterday vowed to probe the administration of Daniel, if he is elected.
The governor was at the PDP rally also at the MKO Abiola Stadium when President Goodluck Jonathan came to launch his campaign in the state, but he was booed.
Obasanjo won the battle for the PDP, Ogun forcing Isiaka, Daniel group’s factional candidate, to defect to PPN.
Daniel vowed a few days ago to hand over power to the “person who is the people’s choice”. He described Olurin as the court’s not the people’s candidate.
He also solicited support for his deputy, Alhaja Salimot Bakare, and one of his commissioners, Prince Segun Adekoya, who are running for House of Representatives seats on the platform of the PPN.
But the governor, who is the Southwest co-ordinator of the Goodluck Sambo Campaign Organisation, called on members of the PPN to vote for Jonathan in the presidential election. Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) Founder Dr Frederick Fasehun was at the rally to support Daniel and the Goodluck/ Sambo ticket.
Isiaka said posterity had programmed him for the service of the citizens at this “critical moment in the history of Ogun state.”
Noting that PPN is the party to beat in next month’s poll, Isiaka pledged to run a people-oriented administration anchored on four pillars – “growing the economy, providing quality services, strengthening our people and society and energising our government and the polity”, if elected into office.
Speaking during a “Meet the people” programme organised by the Ogun State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abeokuta, Olurin said he would “examine closely” the finances of the Daniel administration to ascertain whether the huge debt incurred by the state followed due process in the last eight years.
He said he had observed that the state’s debt profile is not only a subject of controversy between the governor and members of the House of Assembly, but also because the interest of Ogun people will be better served, if they know how much the state owes and whether the debt was judiciously incurred.
Finance Commissioner Mr Kehinde Shogunle had stated that the state’s debt profile as at late 2009 stood at N21bn.
Represented by his running mate Mr Tunde Oladunjoye, Olurin said his motive was “not to witch–hunt anybody”.
His words: “We are not after anybody. We will not witch-hunt anybody. What you and I know is that if you move into a new house, even if the house is painted, you may want to apply your own paint. It is very natural for you to look at it closely.
“And don’t forget, there has been an issue of controversy and doubt over how much Ogun State owes, especially between the House of Assembly and the present governor. So, it is just natural that when we take over, we will ask questions because Ogun state wants to know.”
Olurin has faulted the inclusion of Isiaka’s name in the list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said the process may be challenged in court.
According to a statement by the Head of the Media Committee, Olurin Campaign Organisation, Mr. Lai Labode, Isiaka’s name was “smuggled into the list through the back door”.
Said Olurin: “We are concerned at the way and manner his name was smuggled into the list through the backdoor. It is clear to all that the deadline for the withdrawal and substitution of candidates was February 28, 2011.
“So, the questions that all men of good conscience should ask are: At what point did Isiaka become a candidate of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN)? Was it before or after the judgment? What would have happened had the court declared him the candidate of the PDP? What is the role of INEC in all of these?”
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