The crisis between former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, and the Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, worsened over the weekend as prominent political aides to the governor who were allegedly loyal to Obasanjo were asked to quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or have their appointments terminated.
The former state chairman of the party, Elder Joju Fadairo, who is now the state chairman of the Goodluck Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation, had penultimate Sunday alleged that some political appointees loyal to the PDP in the state were being intimidated by the governor.
Addressing a press conference in Abeokuta, the state capital, Fadairo said: “Political appointees are complaining that they are being intimidated. Don’t allow that anymore. If they don’t even pay your salary, our government will pay them. If they intimidate them, we are not going to allow that. Intimidation is what we are not going to allow,” he told the appointees.
The allegation preceded a meeting of political appointees, which held at the Asoludero Court of Governor Gbenga Daniel, on Wednesday last week during which it was allegedly agreed that they should support the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN).
Some of the political appointees in the state, who did not attend the meeting, alleged that the Secretary to the State Government, Otunba Adegbemi Onakoya, asked them to support the PPN or resign their appointments.
In what appears as a realisation of the threat, three members of Yewa South Local Government Area in the state were last Monday sacked and replaced for allegedly refusing to defect to PPN.
The affected members are Femi Ogunsola, Deji Ogunsola, Deji Orebiyi and Mr. Taiwo Jimoh. The Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Adekunle Adewunmi, chairman caretaker committee of the council area, was also said to be under pressure to campaign for the PPN.
To demonstrate his loyalty, and avoid being sacked, Adewunmi has started using bulk SMS to campaign for the PPN’s candidate in the April 16, governorship race.
Daily Sun learnt that although the SSG allegedly asked Sowunmi, Fakeye, Salako and Otegbeye to resign or face sack, as well as return their official vehicles, official telephone numbers and government property in their care, the governor’s aides insisted that they were not afraid of being sacked
Reacting to the development, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Sina Kawonise debunked the claim, saying at no time did Daniel sack anyone in his cabinet because of his/or her affiliation.
Kawonise who reacted through a text message said: ‘’This is to formally disclaim the falsehood that Governor Gbenga Daniel has sacked members of his cabinet who refused to join the PPN. Governor Daniel did not sack anyone in his cabinet because his/her affiliation.”
One of the victims of the alleged intimidation, Bashorun Sanjo Soyeye, who until Wednesday last week was the governor’s liaison officer (GLO) in the state, lamented termination of his appointment.
“I am shocked and surprised to receive the letter. I was loyal to the governor until the morning of Wednesday when I receive a letter terminating my appointment as the GLO in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area.”
It was further learnt that erstwhile deputy chief press secretary to the governor, Mr. Segun Sowunmi, as well as the special assistant to the governor attached to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Tokunbo Fakeye, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr. Niyi Salako and Dr. Leke Otegbeye, the son of the late chieftain of the PDP, were also said to be under pressure to denounce the PDP.
“Governor Daniel himself remains in PDP and continues to solicit votes for President Goodluck Jonathan in all the PPN’s rallies he attends. I use this opportunity to challenge any political appointee of Governor Daniel who claims to have sacked to produce his sack letter for the world to see.”
“I must also use this opportunity to alert the general public of the evil ploy of some elements in Ogun State who have little or no significant following in the state to peddle falsehood against the government and governor of Ogun State in order to weaken his potent political structure, confused the good people of Ogun State, particularly the voters and subvert the electoral and democratic process’, the Commissioner stressed.
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