Posted by By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta on
The frosty relationship between the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and the Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, came to fore on Thursday with elders from the state calling for amicable settlement. Both Obasanjo and Daniel are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The frosty relationship between the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and the Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, came to fore on Thursday with elders from the state calling for amicable settlement. Both Obasanjo and Daniel are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The nation's elders' statesmen who are indigenes of the Gateway State said in order to end the rift they had decided to wade it.
Daily Sun learnt that there has been no love lost between the former president and Governor Daniel in recent times, with the former shunning invitations from the latter.
Chairman of the Ogun State Elders Consultative Forum, Prince Bola Ajibola, who spoke with journalists at the end of the elders' meeting at his Asero, Abeokuta residence said, as foremost elders forum in Nigeria, with the nation's elite in their midst they cannot sit down and watch the peace of the state being threatened.
Ajibola, a one-time Attorney-General and Justice minister said a four-man ad-hoc body is to meet the two feuding sons of the Gateway State in order to hold talks with them.
The peace team would include Ajibola, ex-Oyo State governor and sole administrator of Ekiti State, Gen. Tunji Olurin, Ambassador Segun Olusola and Olori Yetunde Gbadebo, former Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) resident electoral commissioner.
Among those present at the meeting where the decision was taken were, Dr. Tunji Otegbeye, Prof. Anthony Asiwaju, Chief G.O.K. Ajayi, Prof. Akin Mabogunje, Adele Olu of Ilaro, High Chief Jasper Oyekan, among several others.
'The rift between ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and our governor should be further looked into and we hope that it will be resolved soon," Ajibola, dressed in white agbada and cap, attire that symbolizes peace, told reporters.
'Four of our members must meet the father of the speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Alani Bankole and they should discuss few of these matters with him. We shall call all the stakeholders very soon to resolve the whole matter," he stressed.
He further stated that there were external forces behind the rift that recently engulfed the state House of Assembly and the executive.
His words: 'We know that there were external forces but we are dealing with all that. We are conscious of those side effects, so these are being cared for. We shall keep the dialogue on, we have decided to hold big conference of all the stakeholders who shall include obas, politicians and the rest."
Shedding lights on the face-off between Daniel and the state lawmakers, Ajibola expressed delight that the elders had resolved the conflict.
According to him, the 11-member Elders Delegates, headed by Ambassador Olujimi Jolaoso met and held discussions with the three paramount rulers in the state - Oba Sikiru Adetona (Awujale), Oba Adeniyi Sonariwo (Akarigbo) and Oba Adedotun Gbadebo (Alake) to make input into solving the crisis.
Ajibola also said that to finally end the crisis in the state the four-man team would also meet the father of the speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Alani Bankole.