Oburu assures Babu Owino of fair ODM nomination for Nairobi governor race
Speaking on Ramogi TV on Tuesday evening, Oburu sought to calm fears that Babu could be blocked from contesting, insisting there is no reason for him to worry.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has been assured of a fair chance at the Nairobi gubernatorial seat after ODM party leader Oburu Oginga said the party will not deny him the ticket if he wins the nominations.
Speaking on Ramogi TV on Tuesday evening, Oburu sought to calm fears that Babu could be blocked from contesting, insisting there is no reason for him to worry.
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“I do not see anything wrong with Babu Owino, although I hear there are some issues that may be troubling him,” Oburu said.
“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 added.
Senator Oburu encouraged all aspirants to engage in an open and transparent nomination process, assuring them of equal treatment.
“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 emphasised.
He revealed that he has been attempting to personally meet Babu Owino to reassure him.
“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.
Addressing recent criticism of ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Oburu said the party remains united and there is no conflict.
“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,” he noted.
“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.”
On the question of who might succeed the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the next Luo political leader, Oburu said leadership cannot be decided in advance.
“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,” Oburu added.
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