By D, KNA
The ODM Party Chairperson Gladys Wanga has told off a section of party leaders opposed to the leadership of Dr. Oburu Oginga terming them as hypocritical and dishonest.
Wanga said Oburu was an experienced leader who was elevated to the helm of the party to curb squabbles and party disintegration.
Speaking on Tuesday when she opened Nyakwere livestock market in Karachuonyo Constituency, Wanga said it was wrong for the leaders to challenge the validity of Oburu’s leadership.
Wanga, who is also the Homa bay county governor, explained that two Deputy ODM party leaders, Abdulswamad Nasir and Simba Arati proposed him for the interim leadership in October last year after the death of the then party leader Raila Odinga.
Wanga said the two party leaders proposed Oburu to prevent chaos in the party after Raila Odinga’s death.
“It was Nasir who proposed Oburu as the acting party leader. Then Arati seconded the proposal to help to avert a power struggle,” Wanga said.
She accused Embakasi East legislator, Babu Owino, of hypocrisy because he did not raise objections when Oburu was being made the acting party leader.
“Babu was present in the meeting where Oburu was made the acting party leader, but he did not complain. Why is he complaining today?” she posed.
The party chair said Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was also in attendance when Oburu was made the substantive ODM leader but he did not complain.
“Sifuna presided over the function in which Oburu was made a substantive party leader and he supported him during the formative stage. What are his grounds for opposing Oburu’s leadership today?” Wanga asked.
She said that ODM party will continue to remain strong under the Linda Ground initiative, adding that just a handful of ODM leaders had rebelled under the Linda Mwananchi faction.
“Only one Governor is in that camp and just a handful of MPs. The majority are with us in the broad-based government,” Wanga said.
She urged former President Uhuru Kenyatta to stop rocking ODM. The Governor claimed that the differences experienced in ODM are fueled by Mr. Kenyatta, whom she accused of funding the activities of Linda Mwananchi faction.
“Uhuru does not want ODM to form a pre-election coalition with President William Ruto. I urge him to stop fueling the differences in ODM by funding those who are opposing the official party position,” Wanga said.
She urged residents to support ODM in its 2027 pre-election pact with Ruto to enable them to form the next government.
“We are teaming up with UDA party in order to form the next government. We are sure of winning next year’s elections,” Wanga said.
