Gbenga Daniel speaks on loyalty to Atiku, alleged romance with APC, others

Former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has reiterated his exit from his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and by extension partisan politics.

However, the former governor has come under ridicule amongst opposition figures, amidst allegations of betrayal after announcing a sudden retirement from politics only to start consultation with the All Progressives Congress.

Recall that Daniel, a top strategist for Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, recently wrote a letter to Uche Secondus, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, announcing his urgent retirement from politics.

He cited no political reason for his move, which many of his PDP associates received with shock, only saying he felt he had achieved all that was needed in politics and it was time to focus on his charity works.

However, to the rude shock of many, on Sunday morning, barely 24 hours after his resignation notice, Daniel was seen holding talks with APC leaders at his residence.

He later issued a statement saying his supporters were clamouring for his move to the APC, especially because he directed them to support APC’s Dapo Abiodun at the governorship election earlier this month.

Many in the PDP said they saw through Daniel’s plot, which was not unique as many politicians had deployed such purported demands of their followers to move across political parties.

In a swift response to the issues emanating from his resignation and subsequent romance with the ruling APC, Daniel in a statement on Tuesday afternoon he was only dissociating from the PDP and not Atiku, ”and had no plan to join the APC”.

“I have not, will not and will never abandon Atiku,” Mr Daniel said.

“Atiku is different from PDP. I have resigned from PDP and lost interest in partisan politics having put in about 20 years of my life in a thankless process.

“I will commit my God-given resources to help the less privileged through my Foundation and will contribute to sharing the body of knowledge through our not-for-profit political academy. That will be a thankful process.

“I will continue to support the political process in a non-partisan manner. I am clear with my position, without any ambiguity.

“There is no need to insinuate, speculate, extrapolate, anticipate or draw conclusions on my behalf. I did not expect such a simple personal decision can generate such national discourse and for that, I remain grateful to God. I am however most grateful to all my friends and well-wishers,” he said.