Acting Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Oburu Oginga has assured Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino that the party will not deny him the Nairobi gubernatorial ticket if he wins the nominations.
Speaking during an interview on Ramogi TV on Tuesday night, Oburu dismissed claims that the party could lock out Babu, saying he sees no reason why the youthful MP should be worried about his chances.
“I do not see anything wrong with Babu Owino, although I hear there are some issues that may be troubling him,” said Oburu.
“I do not know why he believes he cannot be given the ODM ticket to vie for Nairobi Governor. I do not think there can be any reason to deny him the ticket if he wins the nominations. If he wins, he will get the ticket, so let him not run away from the party,” he said
Oburu urged all aspirants to prepare for an open and transparent nomination process, assuring that no candidate will be unfairly treated.
“Anyone who wants the party ticket in the Nairobi Governor race should just declare and square it out openly among each other… let nobody run away because they think they will be denied a chance. Nobody can take the ticket away from you if you win it and you’re a member of the party,” he said.
He revealed that he has been trying to reach out to Babu Owino to personally reassure him of the party’s commitment to fairness.
“I have not found him yet, but I’m looking for him, I have sent people to look for him, I know I will find him soon so that we can have a conversation and I can tell him to keep calm and not worry,” Oburu said.
Speaking about ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, who has recently faced criticism for allegedly sending mixed messages in his statements, Oburu maintained that there is no internal conflict within the party.
“Sifuna is the one who read out the resolutions of the party after our meeting on Monday. I have spoken to him, and he has no problem,” said Oburu.
“As a young person, sometimes he can become restless and go a little overboard, but he is with us, and he will stay with us. There’s nothing he has done to warrant us removing him from the party. If he goes astray, as our child, we may just discipline him a little, but within the party,” he continued.
Oburu also addressed the ongoing discussion on who should take over as the next Luo political kingpin after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying such leadership cannot be appointed or predetermined.
“There’s no forum where a Luo kingpin is elected. A kingpin will sprout out of nowhere like a mushroom; someone will just emerge and take Raila’s space, but not from his agemates like myself,” he said.
“There are young leaders cropping up and one of them will step up and take that place. But if we handpick somebody and the people do not accept him, then they will still not be kingpin.”
The assurance from Oburu has renewed confidence among Babu's supporters, who now believe the legislator stands a fair chance of securing the ODM ticket should he win the party nominations.
