From Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin

Former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel  has denied speculations he has stepped down for Chief Raymond Dokpesi, in the race for the national chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He described the story of stepping down as “fake news, that’s not true. Dokpesi is our friend but, this is a race that I am a front runner. How do you expect somebody who is a front runner to step down for another person? It’s not done that way. We are friends; we are working together but, there is no issue of stepping down in this matter at all.”

On programmes he has for the party if elected national chairman, Daniel said: “Part of my job, if I become the chairman, is to resolve conflict, like what you have seen in Ilorin. We will sit down with the two factions and see how we can resolve it so that everyone has a sense of belonging. Whenever you see this kind of conflict, it means the party is strong; it means  everybody wants to own the party, everybody wants to belong so, it actually is  strength, and that is how we should look at it.”

Daniel, who expressed hope that the South West would trim down the number of aspirants for the position before the national convention, said the party in the region is still working hard to ensure a united voice at the December convention. “We are working very hard at it. You know in the South West, people are highly educated, and so when you see an avalanche of good personalities showing interest in the party,  its sign of good health.”

We will see if we can trim the number. We are working on it.”

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He described the fracas that was witnessed at the party’s secretariat in Ilorin earlier during his visit as part of the indicators to the strength of the PDP, saying now everyone wants to have a part of the party.

His words: “This party has become very strong and what we saw today is that there are two different competing factions in Kwara state, one claiming legitimacy about the ownership of the structure. We tried to see that at least there was no violence, and we will still find a way of resolving the challenges between the two factions. I have no doubt in my mind that it would be resolved.”

The former governor who was in Ilorin, Kwara state in continuation of his campaign for the party top job, also said the defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the party will usher in an avalanche of similar defections in the  days ahead. He denied allegations that the party had prepared the ground for Atiku’s emergence as the presidential flag bearer.

“You know, the PDP has become a bride; everyone wants to become part and parcel of a winning party. I have no doubt that PDP is going to form the next government in Nigeria. So we are happy and we would look forward to receiving the former Vice President and I can assure you he is not going to be the only one; there is an avalanche of people who are waiting to get into the PDP.

“But it would not be correct to say we have prepared the ground for Atiku to pick the presidential ticket.  Don’t forget that the PDP is a democratic party, there are so many other people who want to pick the ticket and I am sure if he comes he is going to compete with every other person and somebody will pick the ticket. But there is no doubt in my mind that he is a very strong contender”, Daniel said.

The former governor added that he was sure the PDP would form the next government at the national level as he promised to use his office, if elected to resolve lingering factional crises in some chapters of the party.