The Ogun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the Chairmanship of Hon. Sikirulahi Ogundele, has assured the people of the state that Hon. Ladi Adebutu would still be substituted with Senator Kashamu Buruji, representing Ogun East at the senate, as the governorship candidate of the party in the state.
Ogundele said in a statement released and signed on his behalf by the Party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Alhaji Malik Ibitoye, that Kasahmu Buruji was only rolling in political fantasy by saying that he is the party’s Governorship candidate in Ogun State.
The party chairman added in the statement, which was made available to journalists on Monday, that it was laughable that someone of Buruji’s antecedent and character could be parading himself as a governorship candidate of a respected state like Ogun.
“We are very sure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would still substitute Buruji with our candidate for the election, Hon. Ladipo Adebutu, a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Areas of the state.
“How could someone that is still battling extradition to the United States of America over drug related cases be the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State. The whole shenanigan is nothing but a political comedy that would soon come to an end.
“We are surprised that Buruji could contemplate gunning for a state governorship, when he ought to be in prison by now. He is only buying time with the latest development and our party cannot afford to miss this golden opportunity of ruling Ogun State by presenting an unpopular candidate such as Buruji at the 2019 polls,” Ogundele was quoted to have said in the statement.
Ibitoye quoted Ogundele to have stated that it should be noted that Senator Kasahmu Buruji did not participate in the governorship primaries of the PDP supervised by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and that the candidate of Buruji in the election, Mr. Leke Shittu, who was said to have withdrawn his candidature for the “controversial politician” was his Personal Assistant” and a stooge of the politician.
The politician added in the statement that it is not a secret that all the candidates produced by Buruji’s faction of the PDP in the state for the 2019 general elections for the state house of assembly seats, house of representatives seats and the senate were made to write withdrawal letters.
He alleged that the candidates would have been substituted by Senator Buruji with those who could offer him huge sums of money, but that this was frustrated by the INEC.
“We are very sure that the truth will prevail on the long run and Hon. Ladi Adebutu would be given the position that rightly belongs to him by a court of competent jurisdiction that is handling the case.
“That is why we are appealing to the people of Ogun State to remain calm as we are sure of victory at the court of law.
“All the facts are there that we are duly recognised by the leaders of the party as the group that has the mandate to present candidates for the various seats in the election from governorship to the house of assembly, house of representatives and the senate.
“The likes of Senator Kashamu Buruji and his supporters are only buying time and wasting their money and resources because they are not even recognized by the national chapter of the party. We have no doubt that we will achieve victory in due course,” the statement read in part.
Ogundele made it clear that the PDP, under his leadership in the state, is set to take over from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of bastardizing the state and squandering the resources of the gateway state.
According to him, “Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led government has failed Ogun State and the people of the state are tired of this lack lustre government that has nothing good to offer the state.
“The people of Ogun Stage know that their future is in their hands and they are ready to be delivered from this Pharaoh, who wants them to remain perpetually in Egypt rather than becoming free and moving to Canaanland,” adding that the “Egyptians we see today, we will see them no more from 2019.”