I am not a violent man – Obanikoro

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos,  Senator Musiliu Obanikoro at the weekend said that he was not a violent man as being labeled by his detractors.

Obanikoro, the immediate past Minister of State for Defence, addressing supporters and members of the Lagos PDP state executives, expressed optimism that with his grass root connections and the love and support from Lagosians, he will win the primaries and also be declared winner in the forthcoming election.

He added that only unity will help the party win the forthcoming governorship election and not rancours and conspiracies.

The former Ambassador, who stormed the party’s state secretariat with thousands of his supporters, went there to declare his intention to seek the party’s ticket for the 2015 governorship polls in the state.

While pointing at his two sons that attended the event, Obanikoro said, “I have been happily married for 34 years. Is there anywhere in the world where a thug has been married for that long?

“Look at my children; do they look like products of a violent upbringing?

“My sons are God-fearing, gentle, humble, kind, thoughtful and intelligent, a thug cannot raise such kids” Obanikoro said.

He told the party that he was the only person among the aspirants that could wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.

“It is time to liberate Lagos. This state has been ruled by one man for the past 16 years,” he said.

The former minister told members of the party that it was time for all of them to be united and understand that their mission is to win the 2015 elections.

He said that only a person who had experience in governance could improve the fortunes of the state.

Obanikoro, who has served as a local government chairman, a senator, a High Commissioner and a minister, urged members of the party to vote at the primaries based on experience and not sentiments.

“Experience can never be purchased. I can tell you that only those who have served in government can make meaningful change.

“Those who don’t have experience cannot make meaningful change, they will only go there to start learning governance and we don’t need an apprentice governor in Lagos” he said.

He pointed out that he had never been found wanting ever since he joined active partisan politics.

In his remarks, Lagos State Chairman of the PDP, Capt Tunji Shelle (rtd.), promised that the primaries would be free and fair and extolled the virtues of Obanikoro as a man who can be trusted and relied upon.