Lagos 2015: Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro as Jimi Agbaje’s Campaign Overseer
One undeniable and common streak between the immediate past Minister of State for Defence of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and rivers state governor of All Progressives Congress (APC) is their thirstiness and a follow-up doggedness for a higher political office. Whilst these two eminent fellows seem to have the tenacious humor to meander the icebergs of Nigeria political ocean, their political paradigm is more or less a reflection of each other. Remarkably, the political fate that separately befell the political gladiators of the two states, Lagos and River, confirmed the tonal graduation of their political coloration this election year.
The rivers state governor who was announced as APC's Presidential campaign coordinator on December 18th, 2014 was hitherto compensated with the humble and propitious appointment as contained in a statement released by the National Secretary of the party, Lai Mohammed. Accordingly, Rotimi Amaechi, reportedly agreed to drop his aspiration after he was convinced of the stakes his vice presidential aspiration may vomit or swallow in a larger political spectrum –particularly to the party and the zoning factor of peoples vote.
Likewise, it was reported that Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro who lost in the Lagos Gubernatorial PDP Primaries to Jimi Agbaje was promised a senior Ministerial slot in the president's cabinet as a compensation- following his engagement in a war of words with Agbaje and a leader of the PDP in the state, Chief Bode George, over the party's controversial governorship primary. The ex minister of state for Defense consequently took the matter to court and described the party's primaries as a 'sham' but as usual, his political stubbornness often pays off with something tangible.
However, with respect to the Presidents appeal and intervention in the political logjam via reconciliation meeting led by VP Sambo and Peter Obi before the wrap of last year, it was equally reported by the Director-General, Koro Campaign Organization, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, reiterated that Obanikoro will help the President to campaign in Lagos and will also work with the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, to sabotage power from the All Progressives Congress.
The play-out of the political algebraic equation between Obanikoro's conceded defeat to Agbaje and Amaechi's conceded defeat to Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN in year 2014 is a worthy analogy to extrapolate a substantiated political foresight for year 2015. First, the two statesmen were a beneficiary of a political compensation arrangement since they both lost out of their number one political aspirations. More so, the role of Rivers Governor as General Buhari's campaign overseer and that of the former junior defence minister in presidents Jonathan's electoral runs is quite homologous, consideration the strategic assignments in the hand of both 'political revolters'. In addition, the political change which most people clamor for at the presidential sphere – that is, from PDP generational rule as the president to APC is relatively tantamount to the change been longed for by Lagosians in the 16 years of the political contention of ruling party of the state , APC to PDP.
As such, it is held that the sterling qualities of the senator and his distinguishing illustriousness as gentleman of principle, , eclectic nature, strength of character, and love of country, as well as his charismatic prowess and administrative skills earned him a pivotal task in the quest for positive change in politics of Lagos state.
Koro, as he is fondly called, is prided as a strong political figure in Lagos and PDP and he is believed to have the wherewithal to rekindle the hopes of the citizenry and revived their belief in democratic ideals and ordeals in the state. His political vigor and valor is outstanding and one of few forces to be reckoned with, if one is to have headway in Lagos State political panorama.
Conclusively, Obanikoro alongside other family members of the PDP party is expected to drive the party's efforts to win the 2015 gubernatorial election in the state. Koro is often eulogized as a man of local and intercontinental pedigree and affirms the fact that the PDP party is a speculum of high quality leadership materials, and that our country, Nigeria.