2011: I DON'T WANT TO BE VP, SAYS DANIEL
Apparently reacting to critics about his future political ambition, Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has revealed that he nurses no ambition of becoming either the president or vice president of the country at least for now.
Daniel has been rumoured to be nursing the political ambition of running as vice president with the former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida in next year's election.
Addressing hundreds of stakeholders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last week in his private home, 'Asoludero Court'', Sagamu on the attempts by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP to dissolve the State Executive Council (SEC), the governor said history would vindicate his administration.
His words: 'I am putting on notice, that there is no where in history where we are not going to be vindicated. Where are the notable politicians of yesterday who were not on the side of the people. Where are they today? Where are the Majas, where are their families? What happened to their names.? They've all gone down unsung'', the governor asked rhetorically.
Continuing, Daniel said: 'I don't want to talk too much today, the people who are suppose to speak have spoken, but I think some of us have no capacity. 'People have said that the problem of conservative, is that they have never struggled for what they get. What's going on in Abuja is an abberation, it will not last because our cause is just and the people who think they are laughing today, mark my words they will gnash their teeth. I appeal to you to defend your rights and your integrity.
It has happened in the past, we thank God that Obama is a blackman who became the president in the United States, but it took several years before we got there. Our problem today is that we don't want to struggle, we just want things on the platter of gold. 'I am putting you on notice, I don't want to be governor for the third time, and I don't want to be vice president or president under the arrangement we have in the country today, it does not favour the South-west.
'If there is anything that we are now fighting for, it is you, that the job, what we have done in the last eight years must not be allowed to be soiled.' In what appears as a challenge, the governor told the gathering:
'If a state that has the reputation of hundred percent in election is being treated shabily and some of you are still folding your arms and are hoping that…you have to hold your destiny in your hands.
'As you know, God has not left us in Ogun State. He urged members of the party to remain firm and loyal to the leadership,' Daniel said. Meanwhile, plans have been concluded for the governor to contest the state's East Senatorial District election under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if feelers from government circle is anything to go by.
Daily Sun reliably gathered that although a campaign machinery had been set in motion, the membership and modus operandi of the team is still being kept as a secret until the national headquarters of the PDP release guidelines for the election.
Currently, Senator Lekan Mustapha, a political son of the Minister of Industries, Senator Jubril Martins Kuye represents the District at the National Assembly and had been rumoured to have shown interest in returning to the seat in the next year's election.