Otunba Gbenga Daniel in a chat with journalists in his office yesterday explained that he believed strongly that the presidential aspirant in the 2019 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is the way forward for this country.
The former governor, who is also the Director General of Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation, said, “All indices to measure progressiveness in a country have indicated worse ratings since the present government came on.
“Economic, unemployment and others are nothing to write home about.”
When asked why his decision to back Atiku of all aspirants contesting for Aso Rock, Daniel responded that after his service as the longest serving governor of Ogun State, he had two choices; either to be an onlooker, which he had found to be difficult as a person who had played a major role in government, or to ensure that Nigeria is properly governed. He chose the latter.
“And due to the circumstances Nigeria finds itself today, Atiku is the best we can put forward to rescue the country.”
On what his principal chances are at the polls, OGD, as he is fondly called, said, “There are 36 states, out of which 11 are PDP governed. This means that 26 locations are fertile lands where there are no governors. We are not folding our hands as we are working hard in ensuring that we save these lands.”
“I can also assure you that the whole of 11 PDP governors are openly in support of Atiku.”
The former governor also added that the chances of the present government getting a landslide in the forthcoming election is deeming by the day as its continued ineffectiveness and unpreparedness began to wear out the masses and speaking doom for the whole country.
“There is nothing on ground to prove that insecurity, unemployment and other vices openly on display in the country are about to change,” he said, “When such is happening, it is only right that people demand for a change.”
“In addition to this,” he continued, “PDP enabled smooth transition without any violence in the last election, which speaks volume how the party is about the people. Another case was Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Despite direct altercation with President Goodluck Jonathan, Emir of Kano was stilled installed without any interference from the PDP-led government.
“But APC are now ruling the country like a military enclave, which allows Nigerians to now realise that PDP offers a much better options for our country today.
“And the media shouldn’t think it’s safe from harassment from the government in power because if the Senate could be gagged, no one is safe.”
On the clamour for a youth president, OGD said it is a good move for the future of this country. However, Nigeria, being a very complex, is not yet ripe for that.
“It would have been safer if APC led government had involved the youth and show them the robes about the country, then hand over to them. But this is not what we have.
“Therefore, it would be a disaster to just dump the complexity of the country on our unprepared youths for now. The more reason Atiku is the best for the job for now, especially when you put into consideration his plans of ensuring the youths are well represented in his government.”
He added that the former vice president has all it takes to rule the country as he stands tall among other contenders as the most detribalised and the only one with a proven business acumen.
“And above all, Atiku is not a religion fundamentalist,” he concluded.
Gbenga Daniel, who dismissed corruption allegation against Atiku as mere speculation which are yet to be substantiated, said, “It is all about perception, just as Buhari’s integrity. Ever since leaving office, no court has convicted Atiku of any wrong doing. These are just smear campaigns to demonise the man by his distractors.
“I hereby seek media partnership in steering the course of this nation to the promise land as this is no longer about ambition but legacies.”
