Posted by By Jide Ajani, Political Editor on
PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo, has waded into the crisis between Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State and Senator Ibikunle Amosun with a declaration that the zoning formula of the PDP does not favour the senator's gubernatorial ambition in 2007.
PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo, has waded into the crisis between Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State and Senator Ibikunle Amosun with a declaration that the zoning formula of the PDP does not favour the senator's gubernatorial ambition in 2007.
Vanguard learnt from authoritative Aso Rock insiders last week that at a meeting between Obasanjo, Daniel and Amosun, where what could pass for a reconciliation meeting held, President Obasanjo "did not lose sight of the zoning arrangement on ground in his state".
Whereas there had been widespread insinuations that President Obasanjo had been backing the senator against the state governor, Obasanjo who was said to have been livid with rage reportedly asked rhetorically from the senator how the impression gained ground that he was sponsoring him against his state governor.
Vanguard learnt that Governor Daniel was the first to arrive Aso Rock Presidential Villa before the senator was invited for the meeting.
In Ogun State, whereas there are three senatorial districts (East, West and Central) there are four distinct divisions of Egba, which is the Central district; Yewa, which is the West district; and Ijebu and Remo, both in the East district) which created the platform for the rotation or zoning of elective or appointive political offices in the state.
In 1979, Chief Bisi Onabanjo who was elected on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, was of the Ijebu stock, in the East senatorial district.
In 1991, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, who mounted the seat on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and again in 1999 under the umbrella of the Alliance for Democracy is of the Egba stock in the Central district.
The incumbent, Otunba Daniel, is of Remo in the East district.
In fact, that Daniel became governor in 2003 is seen by his opponents as a default because the people of Yewa in the west district are yet to have a go at the governorship seat.
But the PDP, in its wisdom at the primaries in 2003 believed that the only way to defeat the strong incumbent, Osoba, was to field an equally formidable challenger in the person of Daniel.
Therefore, the insinuation of the President at the meeting was to the effect that should Daniel even decide not to go for a second term, a choice which the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees, the people of Yewa in the West district .