BARELY 48 hours to the governorship and House of Assembly elections, plans by President Goodluck Jonathan to rejuvenate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest and secure victory for the party in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States flopped yesterday as moves to reconcile the warring factions in the region fell through.

Meetings held at the Presidential Villa last week and follow-up moves in Ogun State aimed at reconciling the Daniel and Obasanjo camps came to nought as neither faction was willing to step down for the other. Although former President Olusegun Obasanjo was not at any of the meetings, the candidate of the party, General Adetunji Olurin who attended, said it was too late to merge the two groups.

Yesterday in Abeokuta, the PDP accused Governor Gbenga Daniel of playing a “spoiler” role in the State. In a statement signed by its chairman, Chief Dayo Soremi, the party suggested that the governor had been engaging in anti-party activities and literally foreclosed any form of reconciliation before the poll.

Although a source said further means of sealing a deal ahead of Tuesday’s polls would still be explored, he expressed little hope that the deep-seated schism could be bridged in the few hours left.

In Oyo State, hopes that Ibadan Elders could review their adoption of ACN’s Senator Abiola Ajimobi as official candidate for the governorship was dashed yesterday as the prominent indigenes of the Oyo State capital insisted that it was the only way to ensure that Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala is unseated and an Ibadan installed in the Agodi Government House.

This has affected plans by PDP candidate, Governor Akala, to use his deputy, Chief Taofeek Arapaja, to reach out and appease the elders with a view to obtaining a good portion of the Ibadan votes that could prove decisive. The governor has since stepped up his campaign in Ogbomoso, Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun. His men hope to get the non-Ibadan people to team up against the Ibadan position.

A leader of one of the opposition parties told The Nation that talks were still on to get leader and moving spirit behind Accord, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, to step down for Ajimobi. However, he confessed the chances were very slim as the former governor seems to have been emboldened by the fair performance of his party at the National Assembly polls. He has also claimed credit for the good showing of President Jonathan in the presidential poll in the State.

The battle has since shifted to Oyo, Oke Ogun and Ibarapa Divisions. Both Accord and ACN have also stepped up campaigns in Ogbomoso with the senator-elect, Hon. Ayo Adeseun, as anchor man for the ACN in the town from which Akala also hails.

In Lagos, all hopes that the PDP could put up a good fight have faded as the factions loyal to Chief Bode George, Alhaji Musiliu Obanikoro, Rafiu Jafojo and Adeseye Ogunlewe have failed to reconcile. The efforts of Chief Tude Oshurinde to ensure a united front through sharing executive positions and appointments have been futile, thus foreclosing any possibility of successfully challenging a vastly popular ACN candidate, Governor Tunde Fashola.

The PDP is in tatters in the region and an ACN victory in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo in the governorship poll will strengthen the party and further render the PDP’s push to gain a foothold abortive.

Faces of those who will cause the next wetie in wetie land

All non-SWners in SW should be at alert. Do not lose your lives for nothing. It is not worth it. Stay away from voting; you have no axe to grind in their morbid internal politics.

^^^

Professor of Hydroponics,

Why dont you mind your business?

Frustrated much?

wild wild west