By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he would have been dead now if the fire which burnt part of his mansion in Abeokuta last week occurred in the night.

Obasanjo stated this while thanking  the executive members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Lagos State, who  paid him a solidarity visit in his Abeokuta home.

He recalled  that the smoke which pervaded his room was enough to terminate a life.

Obasanjo had last week escaped death following the fire incident which razed the office of his private secretary which was near his bedroom.

Obasanjo said: “The fire incident which occurred in the office of my private secretary resulted in thick smoke which pervaded my bedroom. If it had happened at night, I would have been a dead person now.

“I want to thank all those who called me on phone both within and outside the country. Let us appreciate the mercy and kindness of God.

“There are many we started last year together but are no more today. We are not mocking them, but we have to extol God.

Obasanjo’s mansion

“In fact, that I am able to stand erect is God’s blessing, many of my age group cannot stand well. I am not mocking them, but I am thanking God. My hope and prayer is that this year 2013 will be a glorious year.”

How Lagos PDP can dislodge ACN

Meantime, the former President also said that if the  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos has the political will it can dislodge the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the 2015 elections.

Obasanjo, however, said for the PDP to take over Lagos from  ACN,  the leaders needed to sink their ego and sacrifice their individual interest for the general interest of the party.

The ex-President stated this when the PDP executives in Lagos State paid a courtesy visit on him at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo who described Lagos PDP as a ‘party in wilderness’ noted that leaders of the party needed to work together to build the party and restore it to the right path.
He expressed optimism that if the leaders and members could be united, they would capture power from the ruling ACN in Lagos State

He noted: “If only the leaders would sink their ego and regard the party’s interest as supreme and above that of individuals, then the party will come out strong and able to wrest power from the ruling party.”

Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Mr Tunji Shelle, Chairman, Lagos State PDP, said the purpose of their visit was three-fold.

He said: “We are in Abeokuta to commiserate with Obasanjo over the fire incident and to rejoice with him over the new year as well as to receive counsel and his blessings for our party.

“Baba’s advice is invaluable and we are going back to Lagos as a happy family. We would return to build our party on the platform of his advice to re-launch our party into recognition.”