Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
Former Ogun State Governor and a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Gbenga Daniels, has resigned from active and partisan politics.
Daniel’s resignation was contained in a letter he addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus and dated March 14, noting that his decision was personal.
He added that having served in various capacities, including as Governor of Ogun State, he had resolved to immerse himself in some other vocations and take on some new challenges.
Despite his decision to quit partisan politics, notwithstanding, Daniel said he had decided to rejuvenate his charity based organisation, the Gateway Front Foundation (GFF).
He claimed that the foundation “will literally continue to dispense succour to the needy, address and assist in the areas of some of their health challenges.”
Besides, Daniel said he planned to resuscitate the non-partisan Political Leadership Academy (POLA) which he established some years ago as a platform of political education to our citizens.
“I joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State on Sunday, the 9th of September, 2001 at an event which was described as one of the most ceremonial political rallies in our recent political history in the South Western part of Nigeria.
“We rose from that rally to create a highly robust and effective political campaign machinery which resulted in an electoral victory for the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State in 2003; this movement and vibration affected the politics of the region positively with a victory in five (5) states of the South West.
“I served as Ogun State Governor for eight years and our administration till today remains a point of reference in terms of physical, social, economic, educational and human capital development since the State was created in 1976.
“Notwithstanding these widely acclaimed achievements, our party ran into trouble waters towards the end of our administration (about the year 2009) which led to the sad loss in the election of 2011 and regrettably ten years after the party has been unable to resolve those internal disputes and challenges.
“Meanwhile, the PDP in Ogun State was confronted with a very difficult situation in matter of choice. Whereas the national leadership of our party, recognised one candidate for the 2019 election by court pronouncements another candidate, and in compliance with those court orders, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised was on the INEC list.
“The candidates recognised by INEC were not acceptable to the national leadership of the party. Our situation was then compounded because the candidate which the court and INEC recognised and accepted as valid has also been expelled by the party. This was the dilemma we found ourselves as we approached the March 9, 2019 governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
“Going forward, we have responded to the yearnings of our people and joined others in emplacing an administration that we believe will better serve the interests of our people than what currently exists. The rest they say is now history.
“I must say that looking back, I do not have any regrets over that patriotic choice and decision, especially as several of our citizens, leaders and stakeholders in the state and outside have commended that singular action.
“Many stakeholders within and outside Ogun State feel fulfilled, excited and grateful about our decision to join others in putting a stop to a regime that was believed to be against the collective and general welfare of our people.
“In the last few months, I have had one of the rare privileges of traveling round the entire length and breadth of our great country on at least two occasions; the first being during my campaigns to become the National Chairman of our great party, and later as the Director General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization (APCO).
“I must sincerely admit that in the course of all these travels, I have built a network of contacts, of friends and associates in a mutually rewarding relationships which I cherished most and greatly too. I am therefore persuaded that I have fewer points to make and prove in my political journeys in partisan politics.
“Without doubt, I will miss the company of my friends and associates and all those relationships I built in the course of the years all over the country,” it stated.
