‘Afenifere’s visit to Daniel set bad precedence’

The Afenifere Renewal Group on Thursday, flayed Afenifere leaders’ visit to former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Danel, saying they had set a bad precedence.

 

The Afenifere leaders led by Chief Reuben Fasoranti, offered Daniel solidarity when they visited his Sagamu home on Wednesday.

Daniel is currently facing a 16-count of corruption against him by the Economic and the Financial Crimes Commission.

But the ARG said the leaders should have waited until Daniel was cleared by the court before reacting and showing solidarity.

The spokesman for ARG, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, said the visit was inappropriate.

He said, "There is also the question of morality and value. Elders are supposed to be custodian of truth. Elders should not intervene when a case is still in court. If there should be any visit, it should be from Daniel to explain what is going on and not from the elders.

"I am not saying that Daniel is guilty; the elders should allow the judiciary to run its course. If he is pronounced innocent, the elders can then speak. What they are doing now sets bad precedence and sends wrong message to the young ones that when they grow up and anything goes wrong, they could expect elders to show solidarity."

The ARG Chairman, Mr. Wale Oshun, however, declined comment.

He said, "We decided to renew because we felt that things could be done in a more efficient manner."

The Ogun State deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the April election, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, said the Yoruba elders that visited Daniel were not representing their people but themselves.

"These people are contractors. They have benefitted directly and personally from Daniel and their visit was not a surprise in any form. But they should have waited for the court of law to make its judgement before jumping the gun," said the former Ijebu East Local Government chairman, who spoke to THE PUNCH on the telephone.

"They should also know that their pronouncements were contrary to the conditions on which Daniel was granted bail."

However, a leader of the PDP in Ogun State, Chief Bode Mustapha, said Daniel was the architect of his own misfortune.

Mustapha, a former member of the House of Representatives, also dismissed the allegation by Daniel’s camp that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was behind the former governor’s travail.

Written by  Sesan Olufowobi             Courtesy Of: Punch