Atiku: “Makinde Is A New Comer In Oyo Politics” – PDP Leaders Move Against Governor

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has come under political heat for openly saying he won’t work for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

This is as some elders of the party in Oyo State questioned the stand of the Governor and the basis for such a decision.

They said they are ready to work and win Oyo State for the PDP presidential candidate irrespective of the Governor’s position.

Naija News reports Makinde is part of the Governors who have vowed not to have anything to do with Atiku’s 2023 presidential ambition except Iyorchia Ayu resigns as the PDP National Chairman and his replaced by a northerner.

The Oyo State Governor went further on Saturday when he openly declared during a live radio programme that he and other aggrieved Governors won’t work for Atiku.

He is also believed to be in support of the decision by the Afenifere group loyal to Pa Reuben Fasoranti to endorse the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.

However, some PDP leaders in the state have questioned the Governor’s decision and said they would work for the victory of Atiku in Oyo State.

According to them, Makinde is speaking for himself and his threats do not carry weight.

They made the declaration on Wednesday at an emergency meeting of the leaders of the party from the 33 local government areas of the state.

In their separate remarks, a former minister of Mines and Steel Development, Elder Wole Oyelese, and another leader of the party in the state, Mr. Femi Babalola said Governor Makinde is on his own.

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 new comer in Oyo State politics but we shall continue to work for our party.”

“However, we are working for Atiku in a special way. My advise for any politician who wants to win in Oyo state is to come to 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 breakdown.”

In his own view, Babalola said the same reason Governor Makinde is holding to for not supporting Atiku is the same thing he is doing in the state with the case of an Ibadan man taking over from another Ibadan man.

He urged the Governor to come to equity with clean hands.

“He that comes to equity must come with clean hands. As an Engineer, I analyze issues. The first question I asked myself was, is it good for a northerner to take over from a northerner? And another question is that is it good for an Ibadan man to take over from Ibadan man that spent eight years?

“So, for Makinde that benefited from such, why is he now antagonizing another person? He didn’t see anything that was wrong in that but when it is Atiku, it is wrong.”

“Also, did he distribute key positions equitably? Key positions were appointed from 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, that 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,” Babalola submitted.