Jimi Agbaje, the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Lagos State in the just concluded gubernatorial election, has denied reports that he had quit the party.
Agbaje, a trained pharmacist, lost the march 9 gubernatorial election to Babajide Sanwo-Olu candidate of Nigeria’s ruling party the All Progressives Congress (APC). He had previously contested for the governor of the state in 2007 and 2015 and lost.
In a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Felix Oboagwina, Wednesday, Agbaje attributed insinuations that he had dumped PDP to mischief-makers determined to soil his reputation, provoke crisis within the party and dampen the spirit of party members and his supporters.
He said that the PDP remained his party, while he remained committed to the party.
“I have never discussed with anyone any plan to dump PDP, neither has such a prospect crossed my mind,” he maintained. “There is no reason for it. It is uncalled for,” Agbaje said.
He vowed to remain in the party, despite the campaign of calumny being waged against him in the media by a few leaders.
The PDP flag-bearer said he only on Monday released a message encouraging members to rise above the questionable defeats they suffered in the last election and maintain faith in the party, and that it would be contradictory for him to suddenly turn tail and flee the same party.
According to him, “For a party that has twice accorded me the honour of running on its platform, I should be regarded as uncharitable to say I am abandoning PDP now.
“Recent vituperations in the press and social media against his person and his role in the last election were the machinations of political featherweights and did not warrant any response,” the message added.
Agbaje also faulted the claim by a chieftain of the party in the state, Layi Ogunbambi, that he was denied funds as the Director-General of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council in Lagos State, stressing that such position did not exist.
“Suffice to say that Layi Ogunbambi’s claim of being denied funds as Director-General of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council in Lagos State amounted to attempting to build something on nothing.
“For starters, the position he lays claim to gives him no locus- standi as no such formal position existed in the entire campaign structure of PDP in Lagos or any of the other 35 states.”
Agbaje further alleged that Ogunbambi’s wife, Oluwatoyin Ogunbambi, contested as gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State against PDP on another party platform.
“The title of Director General was reserved for the national campaign council. If there was an Atiku/Obi Presidential Campaign it would have, at best, been a Support Group.
Agbaje, also, shrugged off allegations he pilfered campaign funds.
“I was not given one kobo by the party or the PDP Presidential Candidate for the gubernatorial elections. We ran our campaign from beginning to end on a shoe-string budget. You cannot steal or divert what is not given,” he said.
According to him, resources sent for the Presidential and National Assembly elections were disbursed as per instructions received, and the source had shown satisfaction with the exercise.
All the fuss stems from the from the fact that, contrary to the Lagos PDP tradition of sharing money to leaders, Agbaje disbursed funds direct to candidates, as instructed.
“The era of taking a share of what is not ours must stop in our party. The bitterness is from those who find it difficult to believe that money can be channelled without a ‘cut’ being taken. Leaders must lead by example.”
Responding to a former Lagos PDP Chairman, Captain Tunde Shelle, who had accused him of failing to run an inclusive campaign, Agbaje accused him of approaching equity with his questionable records in office.
“That this former Chairman of the party in Lagos state can accuse anyone of mismanagement of funds baffles me. He so mismanaged party funds during his tenor that he ‘forgot’ to keep money aside to pay several years’ rent for the party secretariat! Funds to run rallies in the 20 LGAs during the 2015 campaigns were not forthcoming from the party under this chairman.”
Dismissing other allegations raised against him, Agbaje pointed out that he relinquished the management of his firm, Jaykay Pharmacy Ltd, in 2005 into the post of non-executive Chairman, adding that neither he nor the company handled any contract from any State or federal government; neither is he a government contractor.
He also denied being a mole for APC or its National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, both of whom, he said, suffered from the butt of his campaign.
“My campaigns have been very clear on where the blame of bad governance in Lagos State should lie. It baffles me how the same people I hold responsible for the bondage we find ourselves in Lagos will be funding me to sabotage my party, PDP.
“I have never collected a single kobo from the ruling party in Lagos State directly or indirectly nor from its leadership or representatives.”
He accused the PDP chairman in Lagos State, Agboola Dominic, with anti-party activities, stressing that the chairman confessed, at an open meeting of leaders, to have worked for another candidate at the polls.
“It is an open secret that a few party leaders took a position not to support my candidature after my victory at the party primary elections. Their song was, ‘Vote Atiku in and forget Jimi.
“Those party leaders who stood on the side-lines or worked against the party in the elections should not be fooled that the loss at the elections was as a result of their negative actions. They should not arrogate to themselves powers they do not have.
“The elections were lost due to the intimidation of people which in turn led to voter apathy such that Lagos recorded the lowest percentage turnout in the country,” Agbaje added.
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