Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
The governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has said that despite the internal wrangling plaguing the party in the state, the party has consistently mobilise for the victory of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, saying that he was sure the former Vice President is the next helmsman for the country.
Showunmi who was Atiku’s spokesman during the 2019 election said this in Abeokuta at a stakeholders’ meeting with PDP members and his supporters.
Showunmi, Jimi Lawal and Ladi Adebutu are the three aspirants battling for the PDP’s governorship ticket, a development which had resulted into series of litigations pending before the courts.
Speaking at the meeting, the PDP chieftain charged all PDP members in the state to put the crisis behind them and begin massive mobilization for the presidential candidate, saying “it’s the turn of Waziri Atiku Abubakar.”
While describing Atiku as the most prepared candidate, Showunmi said “election is the difficult one, doing the job of president is easy for Atiku” judging by his capacity and ability.
He said “I have checked, I have observed, I have researched, I have checked front and back, and I know that Atiku means well for Nigeria. He is very prepared and he is very ready. In fact, the election is the difficult one, but doing the job is very easy. He learned under our father, Chief Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo and for so many years he has never allowed himself to be sad or to be so timid that he does not come out. Do you know what it takes to stand for an election every time?”
Showunmi also warned his supporters against abusing other factions of Ogun PDP, insisting that “our party is our party.”
“This time around, we are not having any conversation with any other person, our party is our party. I want to beg you, for that reason, the reason for the general election, the presidential election, you cannot be fighting yourself. You cannot fight or destroy or abuse or wish evil to Hon Adebutu and his group, you cannot fight or destroy or wish evil to Jimi Lawal and his group. And surely, you cannot wish evil for yourself.
“So, you have a bigger responsibility to make sure that the day they call us for that election, everybody will just file out and go and do what we needs to do. Time and season do not permit too much talk. On Atiku Abubakar’s mandate we stand,” he said.
Showunmi also spoke on his recent meeting with Adebutu, saying it was part of efforts to find a common ground to resolve the lingering crisis.
He described the meeting as a “tough and difficult” decision for him.
Showunmi said he had studied the merits and technicalities of all the cases pending in court over the PDP governorship ticket, insisting that he remains the party’s candidate.
“Let me state it very clearly, I have looked at all the cases. I have studied the technicalities of those cases and I tell you absolutely that, I, Otunba Olusegun Showunmi, I am the candidate for governorship of PDP in Ogun State,” he said.