THISDAYonline

Kinsmen of one of the leading gubernatorial aspirants on the Platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel have alleged that there are plots to assasinate the aspirant and called on the police to beef up security around him.

They also reacted to the reports alleging that Daniel is not an indigene of Sagamu describing it as a political propaganda aimed at frustrating his gubernatorial ambition.

Addressing journalists in Sagamu, the Olootu Omoba of Ijagba and the Spokesman for the Ojelobaiye family, Otunba Oluwole Ogunjimi said that since the family received the information it has been worrying about the safety of the aspirant.

Ogunjimi, who condemned what he described as the politics of blackmail among gubernatorial aspirants in the state said that Daniel is a bonafide member of the Ojelobaiye family adding that the aspirant is the son of his brother.

He added that Daniel is a true son of the lineage of chief Ahamba Otesile, who was a great pillar of the Ojelobaiye dynasty of Makun Sagamu.

Also attesting to the indigenship of Daniel, the deputy Chief Imam of Remo, Alhaji Sheu Abdulkadir Junaid said that he was approached by some politicians in the state urging him to disown Daniel with a promise to give him the sum of three million naira and a Mercedes Benz car, but added that he refused their offer.

Another member of the family, Group captain Gbenga Sonubi described the report that Daniel is not an indigene of Sagamu as a political propaganda aimed at frustrating his gubernatorial ambition.

Equally, a release signed by the Media Executive to the Otunba Daniel Campaign Organization, Mr. Dare Folarin said that ward chairmen in the Remo Division of Ogun State who were allegedly signed the petition that Daniel is not from Remo have denied signing such document.

According to the release, the Ifedapo ward 4 chairman, Mr. Samual Fatoye who spoke on behalf of the chairmen in RRemo north local government, said that they only signed a paper brought by the personal assistant on one of the PDP gubernatorial aspirant.

It added that Fatoye denounced the dangerous dimension which the guber race has assumed in the state warning that a situation whereby peoples signature were collected for a particular purpose but used for another purpose will not augur well for democracy.

The release added that the PDP chairman of ward 11, Mr. Moshood Odunuga and his Ward 2 counterpart in Shagamu, Mr. Wasiu Awolaja, while dissociating themselves from the petition said it was highly unbecoming of political aspirants to employ such desperate measures to secure their party's ticket.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Sagamu youths, on Monday, held a solidarity rally in support of the gubernatorial aspiration of Daniel in Sagamu and also condemned those behind the reports alleging that Daniel is not from Sagamu.

The youths, led by Messrs. Raufu Jinadu and Dele Abiona also presented a petition to the Ewusi of Makun Sagamu in council against five PDP local government Chairmen of Makun extraction who were alleged to have signed a petition alleging that Daniel is not an indigene of Remo.

The youths, while describing the action of the chairmen as an attempt to disparage the sterling qualities of Daniel, they urged the Ewusi to intervene in the matter before its get out of hand noting that the aspirant has contributed immensely to the Makun Community in Sagamu.

The Olootu Omoba of Ijagba and the Spokesman for the Ojelobaiye family, Otunba Oluwole Ogunjimi has alleged that their are plots to assassinate Daniel and urged the police to beef up security around the aspirant.