November 03, (THEWILL) – Leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Oyo State, have disagreed with Governor Seyi Makinde, over his opposition to the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Makinde, Nyesom Wike of Rivers; Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Ifeanyin Ugwuanyi of Enugu, and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia had constantly demanded the resignation of the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, for a southerner to take over before supporting Atiku.
THEWILL reports that Governor Makinde had on Saturday, during a live radio programme said he and other aggrieved PDP governors would not work for the presidential candidate of the party.
Makinde during the radio programme had said a “northerner cannot complete eight years tenure and also return power to the North for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to take over”.
He also argued that the national chairman of the party cannot come from the North and the presidential candidate, also from the North.
His deputy, Bayo Lawal, had also said Makinde would support the Yoruba position during the visit of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congres (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the former leader of the Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Sunday.
But speaking at an emergency meeting of the leaders of the party from the 33 local government areas of the state, former minister of Mines and Steel Development, Elder Wole Oyelese and a foremost leader of the party, Engr. Femi Babalola, in their separate remarks, said Makinde was not speaking for the party in the state.
They both reiterated that PDP leaders would work and deliver the state for the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, in 2023.
According to Oyelese, “a good politician would not speak like that. For Makinde to say he would not work for Atiku doesn’t mean anything. He is on his own! It is an empty threat! If he said we should not vote for Atiku, who are we voting for?
“We are too sophisticated for that in Oyo state. Makinde is a newcomer in Oyo state politics but we shall continue to work for our party. However, we are working for Atiku in a special way. My advice for any politician who wants to win in Oyo State is to come to the mainstream. Mainstream is the leadership of the party in the state.
“What is the position of Yoruba on this matter that Makinde is talking about? We don’t have a position. Baba Fasoranti is saying something and Baba Adebanjo is saying another thing. We are not having a position in Yoruba land. Our members remain steadfast and committed. This is our party and we cannot allow it to break down.”
Also, a foremost party leader, Engr. Babalola said the governor is also guilty of the points he raised against the PDP presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku.
His words: “He that comes to equity must come with clean hands. As an Engineer, I analyse issues. The first question I asked myself was, is it good for a northerner to take over from a northerner?
“And another question is is it good for an Ibadan man to take over from an Ibadan man that spent eight years? So, for Makinde that benefited from such, why is he now antagonising another person? He didn’t see anything that is wrong in that but when it is Atiku, it is wrong.
“Also, did he distributed key positions equitably, key positions were appointed from the governor’s local government, Ibadan North East, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the Commissioner for Finance, Commissioner for local government and the only PDP Senator in Oyo are all from Ibadan North East. He is now speaking with equity, which should not come from him.
“We are for Atiku and we are for the PDP, you can see leaders and stakeholders across the 33 local governments here, and we are all ready to win Oyo state for our presidential candidate”.
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