FORMER Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George has appealed to aggrieved aspirants who lost out in Monday’s governorship primaries to work for the success of the party in next year’s election.
At the governorship primaries which was held at Yard 158, Plot 34 Oregun Road, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, Jimi Agbaje polled 432 votes to defeat Obanikoro who scored 343 votes, while Adedeji Doherty and Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi polled 21 votes each.
At the governorship primaries which was held at Yard 158, Plot 34 Oregun Road, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, Jimi Agbaje polled 432 votes to defeat Obanikoro who scored 343 votes, while Adedeji Doherty and Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi polled 21 votes each.
Chief George, however, said that there are measures put in place to unite aggrieved aspirants.
Also Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has called for the cancellation of the Lagos State governorship primaries, calling it a sham and that Bode George supervised this electoral malpractice.
Addressing a press conference after the party’s controversial governorship primaries, Chief George denied allegations leveled against him that he manipulated the process in favour of Mr Jimi Agbaje.
His words: “The people have spoken loud and clear. There is no ambiguity in their vision, there is no hesitation in their collective truth. They have chosen Olujimi Agbaje as their choice in the PDP governorship primary in Lagos State.
“This victory which is a passage of next year’s general elections is a testimony of the choice that the good people of Lagos State are clamouring for. Lagosians need a breath of fresh air. Lagosians have rejected the past with its twin venom of thuggery and hooliganism, with its virulent emblem of intolerance and calumny.
“The procedure was not designed by me. It was done transparently, you were all there. Our hands of friendship is extended to all those who are aggrieved. Lagos is the most strategic state in the country and we must not joke with it. All those who lost the elections are our boys. We will as one big family go and fight the enemy. Let us deliver Lagos and tell the people that there is a better alternative for them.”
Appeal
Appealing to the aggrieved aspirants, he urged them to “come together to forge a formidable front against the opposition party. We must unite to frustrate their strong-hold on our state. We must work hard to thwart their return to Alausa. We must all put behind us the dark hindrances of personal ambition. We must all look far beyond the pretty provincial advantages. We must embrace a wider platform. The interest of the larger section of our people must always supersede the narrow promptings of the few. We must move away from the wicked, nauseating fixities of greed and senseless acquisition. We must move away from the callous insensitive policies of making life more difficult for the poor and needy.”
Reiterating his resolve to unite the aggrieved aspirants, he said, “it is service before self. We are heading to Abuja for the national convention and when we come back, we will massage the egos of those who lost. I can assure you that we will unite all those that lost.”
On the party’s plan for Lagos if given the opportunity to form the next government, he said: “We will promote growth with civility, we will encourage productive enterprise without unnecessary intrusions of power. We will march forward with all Lagosians, ensuring balance and equity, insisting that justice and fair play must return to all nooks and crannies of our society.”
Continuing, he said “we know the people are with us. From the motorcyclists to the mechanics and the artisans, from the poorly paid school teachers to the ill-treated medical doctors, from the vast, ceaseless bustle of Alimosho to the quiet serenity of Epe, we shall touch everyone with gratitude and kindness.”
Obanikoro vows to fight till the end
Meanwhile, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has called for the cancellation of the Lagos State governorship primaries, calling it a sham.
Addressing newsmen at his GRA office shortly after the primaries, Obanikoro said “There is no election results and the elections should be cancelled. The process is completely tainted and going forward with that, will lead to an outcome that will not be beneficial to the party.”
On Agbaje
Asked to comment on the outcome of the exercise that threw up Mr Jimi Agbaje, he said: “My immediate reaction is that the election was a sham. I still cannot comprehend how accredited delegates of 806, will turn out to be 868.
To be honest with you, you can tell that it was a predetermined exercise. People like us are not in this democracy for the sake of it, we are in it to ensure that the right things are done so that the country can be on the right path. We intend to fight this, there is an opportunity for an appeal and we will appeal and we hope the party will do the right thing.”
Accusing Bode George of being responsible for the alleged confusion within the Lagos PDP, he said: “Bode George has been the problem as far as this party is concerned and there is no doubt in my mind that he supervised this electoral malpractice. How do you expect the panel chairman arriving Lagos at 10 am on Monday and not starting the election until 5pm in the evening.”
