The Interim Party Leader of the Orange Democratic Movement Oburu Oginga has welcomed a proposal by some party members to have President William Ruto rejoin the outfit, but with conditions.
Dr Oginga also asked the old guard to respectfully cede control of the party to the youthful leaders who spent many years around the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as his students in politics.
Dr Oginga said should Dr Ruto drop his United Democratic Alliance Party in favour of ODM, he would not be the automatic presidential flag bearer.
According to the ODM leader, the President will have to fight for his slot just like the other suitable candidates who will have expressed their interest for the same position.
This, he said, is because the party is working on being a strong outfit by 2027 to attract as many members as possible. He stressed that as one of the strongest parties, they will field a presidential candidate in the next polls with an aim of forming the next government
“We want ODM to be strong so that those seeking us will have to adhere to our terms. If Ruto sees that ODM is very attractive, he may just return since he is one of the founders who had even confirmed attendance to our party’s 20th anniversary. However, he should be ready to be subjected to competition with other suitable candidates,” said Dr Oginga.
In an interview with a vernacular TV station on Tuesday night, Dr Oginga reflected on a number of issues including how his younger brother died, the impact on the family and party, Odinga succession in Luo Nyanza and how he planned to steer the ODM Party forward.
He pointed out that ODM supporters and the Luo nation should stop worrying about the next community leader, as he or she will emerge from those who were around Mr Odinga.
Dr Oginga, however, felt that the leadership of the community should not be in the hands of Odinga’s contemporary, but the youthful energetic leaders.
He revealed that he was surprised that he was the one chosen to take over the mantle of the party and only learnt about it from Junet Mohammed (Minority Leader of the National Assembly) when he was at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.
“The way I am seeing it, Raila’s peers should go with him, personally I prefer that other leaders who were around Raila take over from him but not us his age mates,” said Dr Oginga.
He insisted that the leader of the Luo is usually one at a time, and just like mushrooms, will emerge from Mr Odinga’s close allies.
His sentiments re-affirm some reports from various quarters which suggest that the Siaya Senator’s role may just be safeguarding ODM’s political relevance and setting the stage for a transition in the party.
He believes that the party needs their energy, strength and agility to rejuvenate it and make it competitive ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
“I would like young people to take up more positions in the coming election, because they still have the strength and time, but they should take over the political parties by joining existing ones or establishing their own outfits.”
He however challenged them to first register as voters and join parties that resonated with their needs, which for him now is ODM which he leads.
Some of the youthful leaders whose names have been touted to take over party leadership include ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
Dr Oginga says he is focusing on unity of the party, which is why his first assignment was to unite the members, saying he cannot allow the party to disintegrate
In this spirit, he stated that he is also in the process of reaching out to Mr Owino to assure him of a fair nomination process for the Nairobi gubernatorial race.
“I hear that there are things that are disturbing Babu Owino that he will be short-changed in the Nairobi gubernatorial nominations. If he clinches the ODM nominations for Nairobi, he will carry our flag. He should not run away from the party based on assumptions, yet he is one of our own children. I am looking for him, I have sent emissaries to him and will look for him and advise him to stay with us,” said Dr Oginga.
He also stated that he has spoken to Mr Sifuna who although he felt goes overboard at times with his statements, remains a strong member of ODM and cannot be chased away from the party.
He pointed out that there exist some differences within the party in Kakamega, Busia, Nyando and some few other areas that are affecting ODM’s popularity at the grassroots level. These he said were his priority to solve to avert cracks within the party
Dr Oginga, however, stated that the party has a detailed plan to take ODM forward, which they are still working on and will be released after the mourning period is over.
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