Southwest PDP chairmen tackle Makinde, say ‘stop acting like governor-general of region’

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has received backlash from leaders of the People’s Democratic Party in the South Western States after he threatened members of the National Working Committee of party against postponing the party’s congress which is slated to hold on the 10th of April 2021 in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

The Governor warned against the postponement of the congress through a statement issued by his media aide, Taiwo Adisa on Friday.

Makinde who is the only serving Governor of the PDP in the South West appreciated the PDP for declaring the congress to hold in Ibadan but however warned against postponing the party’s congress, adding that such move will attract consequences.

“…it has come to my notice that some divisive elements within the party are trying to unduly influence party decisions on the national level. It is shameful that while the peace and reconciliation committee is going about trying to bring the party together, some people are determined to factionalise it. The NWC must not reward these individuals who are working against the party’s overall interests.

“I must warn that any attempt to shift the South-West Congress’s date from April 10 is a signal that the hierarchy has been compromised. Such an action would have dire consequences. For one thing, we will be forced to take all necessary measures to take back our party,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PDP chairman in the South West, Dr Sikirulai Ogundele in conjunction with PDP chairman in Ekiti, Otunba Bisi Kolawole, PDP chairman in Lagos, Adedeji Doherty and the chairman in Osun, Sunday Bisi have said the statement by Mr Makinde is shocking and unbelievable,

“We read with disgust the statement credited to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, warning leaders and member of the National Working Committee of our great party, the People’s Democratic Party”.

“The Working Committee of this party was duly elected just like the governor, and as stakeholders, we all have our own roles to play – more so that he is only the governor of Oyo State by providence and not the Governor-General of the South-West. Even in Oyo State, the governor is not the only stakeholder of the PDP there”.

“To us, threatening that there will be consequences if the party obeys the court order concerning the South-West congress is the height of political rascality and it should be made clear to all lovers of PDP that nothing will be worse than what he has done before by jumping from one political bed to another. It is on record that in 2015, he was persuaded to accept the senatorial ticket, yet, he left PDP for the SDP”.

Ogundele, added that “who cares if he chooses to leave the PDP this time, too? Is he not even already a sinking ship in Oyo State, placing members of the SDP and ADC (Action Democratic Congress) over and above those of the PDP?

“Without apologies, Governor Makinde can do his worse. He should stop threatening the party because he is not more a loyal and committed member of the party than people like us who stood by the party when he left”.