Atiku: Oyo PDP Divided On Choice Of Presidential Candidate As Party Chieftains, Gov. Makinde Clash

Members of the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) have found themselves in a dilemma over the choice of a presidential candidate to support for next year’s general election.

This is sequel to the decision of the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde to remain with the aggrieved PDP governors a.k.a the G5 who decided not to support the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Naija News reports that the clash of interest among the PDP leadership has caused division amongst party members in the state, as many have varying opinions about the G5’s decision not to support Atiku until the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu resigns for a person of southern extraction.

While some leaders of the party in Oyo state are not in agreement with Makinde’s decision and want to stay with Atiku, others have decided to dump Atiku to look elsewhere for alternatives.

However, Naija News gathered that some leaders of the Oyo PDP have bared their minds, as they have insisted on supporting Atiku and were ready to mobilize support for him.

They said it would be better for them to work for Atiku than work for candidates from other political parties.

One of the PDP leaders from the Afijio local government area of the Oyo geo-political zone identified as Engineer Femi Babalola after a stakeholders’ meeting involving the 33 local governments in the state, accused Makinde of not sharing positions equitably in the state, adding that the governor is also guilty of the points he raised against Atiku.

Babalola submitted that “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 antagonizing another person? He didn’t see anything that is wrong with that but when it is Atiku, it is wrong.

“Also, did he distribute 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, that should not come from him.”

Similarly another party chieftain in the Ido local government area of the Oyo South senatorial district, Damola Nureni told Daily Post that “Here in Ido local government area, we do not have any other presidential candidate apart from Atiku. We will support Atiku.

“We cannot go against the decision of the party. The decision of the party is that we are to support our presidential candidate.”

Naija News however learnt that contrary to this, other state leaders have decided to stay with Makinde, while others said they will vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu or Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, or the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

A member of the PDP in Lagelu local government area of the Oyo Central senatorial district, who pleaded anonymity told Daily Post “For governorship, I will support Seyi Makinde and other PDP candidates, but I will not support Atiku. I will support all PDP candidates from the House of Assembly, Reps, Senate and governor, but I will not support Atiku. I will rather support Asiwaju.”

Meanwhile, some prominent figures in the state like Wole Oyelese while speaking during an emergency meeting of the leaders of the party from the 33 local government areas of the state, said he has decided to go against the governor’s stand to campaign for Atiku.

Oyelese, who is a former minister of Mines and Steel Development said he and other PDP leaders have decided recently at a meeting in Ibadan, the state capital to work for Atiku.

The former minister, while explaining that a good politician shouldn’t have spoken the way Makinde did reveal that the governor is on his own, noting that his actions are empty threats.

Oyelese furthered that “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?

“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.”

Another PDP group identified as the National Mandate Group, Oyo state chapter led by a former Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Jumoke Akinjide has also gone against Makinde, noting its intention after extensive deliberation in Ibadan.

The group in a statement told members of the PDP to ignore the threat of the G5 governors, noting that they have confidence in Atiku.

The group explained that Atiku is the most qualified leader to rescue the country, and “We give our wholehearted and unshakeable resolve and commitment to supporting the Presidential Candidate of our Party, the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and indeed, all other PDP candidates during the upcoming 2023 general elections.

“We are confident that Atiku Abubakar is the best-qualified leader to rescue, reform and restore Nigeria to greatness.

“It is totally unacceptable and demeaning to reduce the Oyo State Anthem in the service of mere partisan politics.”