Senator Buruji Kashamu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Ogun State, has promised to take the state to greater heights if elected governor in the 2019 governorship election.
He made this promise on Monday at the unveiling of him and Dr Reuben Abati as the governorship and deputy governorship of the party in Ijebu Igbo.
At the event, which was witnessed by a mammoth crowd from every part of Ogun State and beyond, Kashamu said “My desire to serve Ogun State as governor is to take our dear state to greater heights.”
Speaking about his antecedents, the PDP governorship candidate said, “I am a grassroots politician, a proud Ijebu man and a good citizen of Ogun State who is loved by his people.
“In 2015, when I contested to represent the good people of Ogun East Senatorial District, I promised selfless representation. That is what I have given. And there is no better proof than the over 90 projects that we have attracted to various parts of Ogun East Senatorial District. No one has recorded the same feat in our Senatorial District.
“As you are aware, I have also touched many lives and communities outside Ogun East and Ogun State through the Omoilu Foundation.”
According to him, having done so much as an individual and having transformed many lives and communities as a federal legislator, being a governor would provide him a better platform to impact more lives and transform the whole state in an unprecedented manner.
As he put it, “This aspiration affords me yet another opportunity to continue to touch lives in diverse ways and on a bigger plane.
“Since government is a continuum, I believe we would continue from where the current government stops, and together, we would take our dear Ogun State to greater heights.”
He also promised to run a people-oriented government if elected.
While talking about the crisis in PDP in Ogun State, Kashamu said, “This is your sure ticket for taking Ogun State to greater heights. The Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State Exco is the authentic and legally recognized PDP structure in the state. The people have spoken; the courts have affirmed it and INEC has complied. Truly, the party is supreme. But, it is not superior to the judiciary. Party supremacy is not a licence for executive lawlessness. People cannot continue to act in contempt of the teeming members, leaders and elders of the party and the courts – all in the name of ‘party supremacy’. At some point, like in saner climes, the judiciary must intervene and rein in those acting in utter disregard of our party’s constitution and the laws of the land. That is what has happened in our case.
“The national leadership of our party supervised and approved the congresses that produced the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led state exco in 2016.
“There have been several court judgments that affirmed the validity of the state exco under the leadership of Engr. Adebayo Dayo.
“In the build up to the 2019 general election, congresses were conducted by the Dayo-led state exco in line with Section 25 (1) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) which states that, ‘There shall be a state party congress which shall consist of: (a) The State Chairman who shall be the Chairman. Section 25 (2c) states further, ‘The functions of the state congress shall be to: (c) elect governorship candidates of the party.’
“That is all we have done. So, if anyone decides to go and collect a flag in an office in Abuja, it does not bother us. They say they are the candidates of the party. We say we are the candidates of the people and the rule of law. As the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State, I extend my hands of fellowship to all and sundry. I am ready and able.”
Earlier, the deputy governorship candidate, Dr Reuben Abati, presented the party’s Policy Manual for Taking Ogun State to Greater Heights to the people.
Abati spoke about the planned interventions in various sectors which would result in the wholesome transformation of the state.
Present at the event were party leaders from across the country, businessmen, traders, artisans, trade union representatives as well as students.
