Daniel, a wounded lion, says Olurin

Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Gen. Adetunji Olurin yesterday described Governor Gbenga Daniel as a ‘wounded lion’.

Olurin was reacting to a statement by the governor that he is the candidate of the court.

Speaking through an aide, Mr Austin Oniyokor, Olurin said: “We don’t want to join issue with him. He is crying over spilt milk. We would rather focus on our campaign. This was a man who boasted a few weeks ago that the court will do his bidding.

“When the court didn’t go his way, he began to deride it. One wonders what he would have said had the court favoured his anointed candidate. The other day when he went to beg Baba Obasanjo, he said Olurin is PDP governorship candidate. Now, he is singing a new song. This man is a wounded lion and we can understand his predicament.”

Also, a former ally of the governor, Elder Joju Fadairo accused him of intimidating Caretaker Committee Chairmen of the 20 Local Government Councils for working for the Jonathan/Sambo ticket in the state.

The Council Caretaker Committee Chairmen were appointed by Daniel when the elected Council Executives were dissolved last December 27.

Fadairo said: “Political appointees are complaining that they are being intimidated. Don’t allow that anymore. If they don’t even pay your salary, our government will pay them. If they intimidate them, we are not going to allow that. Intimidation is what we are not going to allow”.

The former factional PDP Chairman, who is the State Coordinator for Jonathan/ Sambo Campaign Organisation, spoke with reporters at a press conference to announce the inauguration of six separate Committees for the Campaign organisation.

Fadairo also charged the Committee heads – Chief Dayo Abatan (Media and Publicity), Chief Bode Mustapha (Strategy and Planning), Chief (Mrs) Titi Ajanaku (Mobilisation) Chief Tola Odulaja (Lega Committee), Mr Lekan Ojo, (Mobilisation Committee) against allowing themselves to be frightened.

He said: “Let me seize this occasion to inform you that you should not allow anybody to intimidate you. Be firm and do what you will be assigned to do towards the election of President Goodluck Jonathan and Namadi Sambo as President and Vice – President come June 9.”

But reacting yesterday, Daniel dismissed the allegation as mere “speculations” and challenged Fadairo to show proof.

Speaking through his Chief Chief Press Secretary, Mr Adegbenro Adebanjo, Daniel said: “It is mere speculations and in the heightened politics of the time, more speculations would come. It is normal. I want to assure you that there will be more such speculations. Has anybody shown you documented evidence of being intimidated by the governor? The governor is not guilty as charged.”