Gbenga Daniels tipped for ministerial appointment in Buhari's new cabinet as Ogun State nominee

FORMER Ogun State governor Otunba Gbenga Daniels has been tipped for a ministerial appointment in President Muhammadu Buhari's cabinet following his recent decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declare that he may join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Earlier this month, Otunba Daniels announced that he had resigned from the PDP and quit partisan politics to focus on charitable events and good causes following the party's recent loss in the presidential election. However, a few days later, he said that his supporters were urging him to join the APC, adding that he was considering the move.

This has attracted a lot of criticism as Otunba Daniels was the director-general of the Atiku Campaign Organisation and PDP supporters are perplexed that he could abandon the party so soon after the elections, especially as the result is still a subject of litigation. Former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode, said it was sad that Otunba Daniel decided to dump the opposition party before the conclusion of Atiku’s election petition.

Apparently, Otunba Daniels' supporters, mostly women, thronged his palatial residence in Sagamu, wailing, rolling on the ground, cursing and vowing not to leave until he rescinded his decision to quit politics and lead them to the APC. Some even held his legs, saying they would not let him go unless he agreed to take them to the APC.

However, with the condemnation of his planned move, Otunba Daniels did another U-turn 24 hours later, saying that he was not APC-bound. Now, speculation has risen that he may eventually join the AP:C if offered a ministerial slot in President Buhari's new cabinet when he constitutes it after being sworn-in on May 29.

It appears that Otunba Daniels' political ambition was hurt when the PDP caved in to pressure from the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, to change the zoning of the national chairmanship position of the party from the southwest to the south-south. This enabled Prince Uche Secondus to become the national chairman of the party with the backing of Governor Wike.

While Otunba Daniels was still smarting from the injury inflicted on his plan to become party chairman, he was offered an appointment as the director-general of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar's campaign organisation. On account of his appointment, he toured the length and breadth of the country campaigning vigorously but then, senate president Dr Bukola Saraki was appointed as the facto director-general of Atiku's campaign organisation, sidelining Otunba Daniels.

It is believed that the Ogun State governor-elect Dapo Abiodun has promised to nominate Otunba Daniels for a ministerial appointment after he backed his gubernatorial campaign. President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to run an all-inclusive government and the implication being that Otunba Daniels' chances of ministerial appointment would be brighter if he is not in PDP.