Posted by From Toba Suleiman in Abeokuta on
Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State yesterday shunned his political rival, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, in apparent disregard to President Olusegun Obasanjo's directive to end the feud.
Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State yesterday shunned his political rival, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, in apparent disregard to President Olusegun Obasanjo's directive to end the feud.
Obasanjo, according to sources, had invited Daniel and Amosun to Abuja where he ordered them to stop political crisis in his home state.
To demonstrate their re-union, the President directed the two embattled friends to address a joint press conference in Abeokuta yesterday.
Amosun told newsmen at his GRA, Abeokuta residence that he got to the Oke-Mosan office of the governor, but discovered that Daniel was not ready to accommodate him.
'In line with Mr. President's directive that we should address a joint press conference, I went to the governor's office in company of PDP members namely former military administrator of Sokoto and Bauchi states, Commodore Raji Rashed, Senator Iyabode Anisulowo and the former Deputy Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief Derin Adebiyi, only to be told that the governor was not ready. We left at about 11:10 am.
'A gentleman, who identified himself as the hief of staff to the governor came to tell us that he has been trying to reach me on phone to say that the governor was otherwise engaged," he said.
But, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Niran Malaolu, denied that the governor was not available for Amosun.
According to him, the Senator's visit to the office of the Daniel was unknown to government as he 'came to the governor's office without any scheduled appointment."
Malaolu, in a statement, said 'I am also not aware of any invitation extended to the Senator by any arm or apparatus of government for Monday, July 25, 2005, Governor Daniel is known to keep his appointments diligently and therefore it is spurious to claim that he was not available when Senator Amosun came to meet with him."
However, Amosun alleged that two persons were allegedly injured when security men on the convoy of Daniel clashed with supporters in Ijemo area of Abeokuta.
Amosun alleged that the injured persons were his supporters who were shot during the confrontation that ensued between him and the governor who was said to be heading for Abeokuta Waterworks for inspection.
But, government denied any shooting during the fracas, just as Amosun cut short his rally, saying the decision was taken in the interest of peace.
THISDAY, however, gathered that the Senator's decision may have been informed by the intervention of President Olusegun Obasanjo who spoke with Amosun on his cellphone during the homage to the Alake Regency Council headed by Chief Adeyemi Adeboye, the Oluwo of Egbaland.