The People’s Democratic Party primaries in Lagos have come and gone but left in its wake bitterness, anger, violence, accusation and counter accusation from the losing side which has in its ranks the immediate past Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.
Koro as he is fondly called has rebuked the PDP leader in the state, Chief Bode George and a former Minister of Works, Chief Adeseye Ogunlewe, for allegedly influencing the Monday exercise to ensure the victory of Mr Jimi Agbaje.
Obanikoro, while addressing a press conference minutes after the event was concluded, said his defeat was orchestrated by George.
“The entire primary was a sham. I still cannot comprehend how accredited delegates of 806 will turn out to be 868. To be honest with you, with the benefit of hindsight, you can tell that the outcome was predetermined.
“The path of fraudulent electoral success is condemnable and we intend to fight this. There is an opportunity to appeal and I hope the party will do the right thing. Bode George has been the major 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 explain the panel chairman arriving in Lagos by 10am and not starting the election until about 5pm? There are so many things that you can look at, like the pronouncements made by Bode George, Ogunlewe and others. One of the reasons why this party has failed in Lagos is because it is being led by the likes of Bode George and Ogunlewe.
“In 2006 during the primary, Bode George manipulated the same way to produce Hilda (widow of the slain governorship aspirant, Funsho Williams) as the winner until common sense prevailed. We submitted ourselves to a process that we thought would be free and fair but unfortunately, they decided to play religious politics and manipulation of electoral process, particularly on the Election Day.”
“Bode George brought thugs to come and harass and intimidate delegates at the primary. I was not even at the primary when the violence started but it was Bode George’s people. One of them even stabbed a nephew of mine during the selection of delegates. This is known to the police. One of them was arrested at the Mainland. He shot at people. They perpetrate violence and then run to his house for cover.”
However, George while responding to Obanikoro’s allegations at another press conference, described the former minister as a “rude boy” who lacked respect for elders.
He said, “I don’t want to lose my anger but I hate it when people don’t have respect for elders, no respect for others and think that they alone have the right to be there. The day he lobbied to be minister, he brought Adebayo Alao-Akala to my office to prostrate and beg me because they did election here in my compound and he was not selected. He had just one vote.
“Humility and civility are the tenets of growth. How can he say the election was a fight between him and myself? This was a boy that was born in 1960. If I did not go to school, I would have had him as my son. He has the nerves to say he is fighting me.
“I brought him (Obanikoro). He joined the party here. If he has many types of apparels, he will never have as many rags as us. That experience is inborn. The Bible and Quran say respect your parents so that your days may be long.”
Credit: Osun Defender
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