A political group in the South West has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to consider appointing Ibrahim Obanikoro as a minister.
The Network For Justice (NFJ) in a statement in Lagos, Thursday, said that the president should pick Mr. Obanikoro ahead of the “old-war horses” in the party, “including his father, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro,” who could not be relied upon to deliver the state in the 2015 general elections.
“President Jonathan should strongly consider nominating Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro as a minister,” said the statement signed by Adebisi Akinbinu, the group’s coordinator.
“He is better and adequately qualified. His father, Shelle, Coker, Maina and Dosunmu are products of factions in the state but he is an independent person as evident by his political approach and dynamism.
“Ibrahim is extremely skilled at mobilizing youths. He comes from a very popular family known in all circles in Lagos State. He is popularly known to have defeated Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in his local government in the recent Local Council Elections,” the group added.
Mr. Obanikoro’s victory at the 2011 chairmanship election for Obalende/Ikoyi local council was upturned, last February by the Lagos State Local Government Election Petitions Appeal Tribunal. He contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The tribunal declared the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Adewale Adeniji, as the winner of the election.
In its statement, the NFJ described the tribunal’s judgment as that of a “jungle electoral system.”
“Most people feel he was robbed and abandoned by PDP in his fight to reclaim mandate from the ACN. He is regarded as his own man and not a stooge for his father.
“He has stronger Lagos State PDP sympathizers. They all contributed to his success in his Local Government Election and can do the same as Minister. He will serve as positive neutral rallying point for the party to refocus and strengthen itself for the upcoming election.
“He is a rising Star with bright political future ahead. Good opportunity for the President to take advantage and set the stage,” the statement said.
PREMIUM TIMES
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