Deji Adeyanju, a human rights activist, has reacted to Akin Osuntokun, the newly appointed Director General (DG) of the Labour Party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), revealing on Wednesday about former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s preferred presidential candidate.
Deji recalled how Obasanjo came out to deny not supporting Mr Obi’s presidential ambition when he first made the now-confirmed revelation.
On Twitter, Deji wrote: “When I said several months ago that OBJ was supporting Obi, our own Baba came out to deny and say he has no interest in politics or any of the candidates and some even called me names here. Now that Baba’s boy, Akin Osuntokun has stated the obvious, I ask how far?”
As reactions trail Deji’s comment, @Okukrewme wrote on Twitter saying: “OBJ has his own mind and he can decide what to do with any time any day. You, do you have your own mind? What have you done with it? If not speaking with two sides of your mouth and for your stomach infrastructure.”
@Dvilitez: “You always want to appear like Mr know all. Who doesn’t know OBJ is supporting OBI, Even Jonathan is. His body language says it all, what I wanna ask u is that when ur prediction of OBI far distance third position fails where will u hide ur head??”
Meanwhile, the LP New DG, Osuntokun revealed Obadanjo’s favourite presidential candidate during an interview session on Channels Television’s Politics. He also spoke about Obasanjo’s role in the Obi/Datti campaign.
Speaking on the former president’s close relationship with him and the former LP DG, Okupe, Osuntokun said, “He is a father figure. That’s a better description of the relationship. He’s a father figure to us, not an ‘ally.’ Assuming that what you are saying is correct, am I not qualified for the job? Am I not competent for it?”
He was also asked if his appointment was based on the recommendation of the former president, Osuntokun added, “You’ll have to ask the presidential candidate, my principal, whether it was an Obasanjo slot and that was how the position was filled.
“Don’t forget that I was the immediate zonal coordinator of the campaign in South-West, so this is essentially an elevation. It is not that I’m just joining the campaign organisation, but if you say that it’s Obasanjo’s slot, people have different perceptions and you’re at liberty to say so.”
The campaign DG further argued that the focus should not be on who is behind his appointment, but what he brings to the table.
“Forget about who recommended me or whether I’m filling the slot of somebody. That is not an issue. It’s my capacity and competence to do the job that matters most. If Obasanjo recommends a very competent person who will lead the party to victory, why should I have any issues with that. For me, it’s a non-issue,” he said.
