BY LEKE ADESERI, South West Regional Editor
Abeokuta— APPARENTLY taking a cue from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s position that he cannot be in the same party with some unnamed individuals, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Southwest Zonal Strategic Meeting held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, weekend, ordered the chapters in the six states of the geo-political zone to compile a list of those that should be barred from returning to the party with their specific ‘sins’

The affected state chapters are Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti.

According to reliable sources, former governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State were cited as among those not to be considered for return.

Making veiled reference to Daniel, Obasanjo said: “Those who misbehaved last year, if you say we should forgive them totally, they will do worse things next year. But those who have shown remorse should be allowed back into the party. But there are some that what they did was so bad that by the grace of God, I will never be in the same party with them for the rest of my life”

The hierarchy of the party present at an exclusive gathering that took place after the Obasanjo’s Hilltop mansion was also said to have lampooned the former governor for what it described as anti-party activities, which caused PDP a dismal performance in the state.

Also at the earlier meeting the National Vice Chairman of the party in the zone; Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, lamented how ‘Daniel worked so hard against the interest of the party’.

Obasanjo, who said the meeting was organised for the party to re-strategise for future challenges and elections, also canvassed unity and cohesion among members for a common goal.

According to him, the turbulent political storm that swept the party from the South-West did not make the party fall, recalling that the party had similar experience in the past.

Don’t blame me

–Daniel

Meantime, former governor Gbenga Daniel said he cannot be held responsible for the party’s misfortune in the last general elections.

In a statement by his media assistant, Adegbenro Adebanjo, Daniel said; “Ordinarily we would not have responded to the statement credited to some individuals during the PDP southwest zonal meeting held in Abeokuta on saturday september 3, where they attempted to blame Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Ogun State for the misfortune of the party during the last general elections.

“However for the sake of posterity we are obliged to make the following clarification: It is actually an irony that these persons who by their actions and inaction were solely responsible for the poor showing of the party could have the effrontery to blame others for their misadventure.”

“Under their watch the party rose from number one in the zone to number zero not just at the elections but in terms of national political appointments in the country. Rather than advancing the cause of the party at every turn they place personal gains and primordial sentiments above the collective good of the generality of party members.

“They were always ready to dine with the devil if that would help destroy their perceived opponents within the party. In spite of their vantage position as national officers of the party , they were never involved in the resolution of crisis but were actually responsible for stoking the embers of dis unity within the party

“Discerning ,Nigerians would recall that before the advent of Otunba Daniel in the party , the PDP in Ogun State was rudder less. And could not make any major impact during local and National elections. And since 2003 when Otunba Daniel , as the leader of the party, repositioned it the party won all contested positions in the 2003 2007 general elections . The same feat was repeated during the local government elections in the state.

“The fortune of the party began to nosedive when these individuals took positions that were at variance with the wishes and aspirations of party members in the state and the South west. They supported individuals who worked against the constitution of the party. And used their positions as national officers of the party to protect these erring members from being sanctioned for their misdemeanours. This led to the collapse of party discipline and emergence of various factions which these individuals patronised and set against duly elected state officers of the party in flagrant disobedience to party rules and ethics.

“It is also an open secret that this same individuals who played to the gallery in Abeokuta colluded with some elements and anti. Democratic forces to thwart the internal democracy of the party , subvert the electoral process during the primaries by holding sham congresses in their private homes and also imposed unpopular individuals as party candidates . This is what led to the defeat of the party in Ogun. State and other parts of the southwest. From their utterances at the Abeokuta meeting it is clear that these individuals are not ready for reconciliation.

“Rather than own up to their mistakes and grave error of judgement which effectively scuttled the chances of the party

during the last election in ogun and the southwest, these men are still engaged in activities that would further erode party discipline and deepen the division within its rank and file.

All genuine lovers of the party should call these men to order before they completely destroy the PDP in Ogun state and the entire south-west”