Obasanjo, Bankole, others shun PDP unity rally in Ogun

A former leader of the ACN also decamped to the PDP at the rally.
Several leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State on Tuesday shunned a unity rally organised by the state's chapter of the party.

Some of the party leaders absent at the rally include former President Olusegun Obasanjo; immediate past Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; and former ministers, Sarafadeen Ishola and Titi Ajanaku.

The ceremony, tagged 'stakeholders/unity meeting', took place at the party secretariat, located along Presidential Boulevard, Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital. The event was reportedly financed by controversial party leader, Buruji Kashamu.

The absence of Mr. Obasanjo and other prominent party leaders confirms the belief among observers that the crisis in the Ogun PDP is yet to be resolved, contrary to the statement by the organisers of the rally.

At the ceremony, supporters carried placards soliciting support for two governorship aspirants of the party for the 2015 elections. The aspirants include a former local government chairman, Sikirulai Ogundele, and Kayode Amusan, a former member of the House of Representatives.

Also at the event, a former Ogun deputy governor, Rafiu Ogunleye, formally joined the PDP.
In his speech, Mr. Ogunleye, a former member of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, said his decision to join the PDP was based on his observations of the goings-on in his former party.

"This great journey started on the fateful day when Prince Buruji Kashamu came to my home in Itele-Ijebu in company of the state chairman of PDP,Engr Bayo Dayo, Otunba Ola Kukoyi,Prince Fakoya and Chief Dele Odulaja to ask me and my group,Imole, for partnership in PDP.

'Here we are today. The rest to the glory of Almighty God is history that is taking place today in the ancient city of Abeokuta,the capital of my dear state.

"Today is an eventful and remarkable day in my life,but I must let you know that after going through the constitution of PDP,I discovered that PDP is a very progressive and truly democratic," Mr. Ogunleye stated.

We also observed that Tuesday's event was attended by PDP leaders from outside Ogun including Ibrahim Mantu (a former Deputy Senate President); Wale Oladipo (current National Secretary of the PDP); and Isola Filani (South-West Chairman of the PDP).

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