Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
The lingering face-off between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel may have been laid to rest.Legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, Friday brokered peace in the battle between the duo over the control of the state Peoples Democratic Party.
The meeting held behind closed doors at Obasanjo’s Hill Top residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, took over three hours before all the feuding factions came out to embrace each other.
Obasanjo’s camp had been pitted against Daniel’s faction in the protracted dispute but the Obasanjo faction had taken the upper hand as a Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered INEC to recognise only the candidates in the former president’s camp.
Former military administrator of old Oyo State, General Adetunji Olurin, is the candidate of the Obasanjo faction for governorship while his daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, is running for Ogun Central senatorial district.
Mr. Gboyega Isiaka is the candidate for governorship in Daniel’s camp while the governor himself is angling for Ogun East senatorial district, but following the failure of Daniel’s camp to upturn the court order, the governor’s candidates and supporters have defected to the little-known Peoples Party of Nigeria. However, Daniel and the party’s chairman in the state who belongs to his faction, Chief Joju Fadairo, say they remain in PDP.
Addressing newsmen last night after the meeting, Babalola said: “The different factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today have been finally resolved. Governor Daniel will be at the airport tomorrow (today) to receive the President (Goodluck Jonathan), I am happy that all the problems have been amicably resolved.”
Daniel said: “Let me say this to you. I am a true Yoruba son and in Yorubaland, it doesn’t matter who is right or who is wrong. It is the younger person that will beg the older person. I have begged Baba and I will continue to beg Baba.”
He added: “Well, in all things, we must give thanks to God. I think what has happened here today is the manifestation of the work of God. I want to seize this opportunity to thank all the elders and also thank Baba (Obasanjo) for the opportunity of this meeting.
“I have no doubt in my mind that we can work things out and I think what we have started today is a manifestation of better things to come. As you have always been aware of, a large number of our supporters felt disenchanted, but I think if you go to war, we have to sit down and find peaceful solution and that is what we have started today.”
“I have no doubt in my mind that we will talk to ourselves to ensure that PDP remains strong and united. And you know there was never a time that I left the party. The people who left felt aggrieved and we have started the process of reconciliation.”
Shortly after Daniel spoke, Obasanjo responded, saying, “You know one thing, if you are a true Christian, your prayer will be Our Father who arth in heaven, hallowed be thy name, forgive us as we forgive those who offend us.
“As I pray God to forgive me my sins, and I forgive people who sin against me and particularly those who ask for forgiveness and then I ask God that he should deliver me from evil and deliver those who sinned against me.”