Seyi Makinde secretly working for Atiku – PDP chieftains

Some PDP leaders claim that Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, is secretly working with the party’s presidential nominee, Atiku Abubakar, to undermine the position of the five disgruntled governors.

In September 2022, Makinde resigned from the PDP Presidential Campaign Council along with Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) in protest of Iyorchia Ayu’s continued position as the party’s national chairman, according to Naija News.

The Integrity Group, a group of disgruntled governors, were supposed to announce their preferred candidate in January 2023, but they have been unable to do so due to their failure to reach consensus on a candidate.

A member of the National Executive Committee of PDP, Diran Odeyemi, in an interview with PUNCH, described Makinde as a smart politician, saying he is working for himself because of his political future.

READ ALSO:

• French footballer gets 30-year ban for punching referee
• Steer clear or have yourselves to blame, military warns those plotting to scuttle polls
• Toyin Abraham beats Funke Akindele, others as highest grossing actress for 2022

According to him, Makinde financed Atiku’s rally in Oyo State contrary to public perception that he was working against the interest of the party.

He said: “Governor Makinde is playing smart and working for himself. He financed Atiku’s rally in Oyo state. All his men, apart from Taofeek Arapaja, the Deputy National Chairman (South), were at that rally and they all pledged their loyalty to the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.”

Similarly, a former governor of one of the North-West states said Makinde is aware of Oyo state residents’ choice and he cannot dump Atiku since he is also on the ballot.

He also said that Seyi Makinde had a secret meeting with Atiku where both men agreed to work together.

He said: “Politics is reality. You don’t burn the bridge when you have crossed to the other side because soon, you will need it to return. The message was clear when at the flag-off of the governor’s campaign rally, chants of Atiku filled the air. Governor Wike was there as well as the other members of their group.

“The governor knows the choice before his people. Being on the ballot, he knows he can’t dump Atiku just like that. I am aware that he had a secret meeting with Atiku recently where both men agreed to work together”

READ ALSO:

• Osun tribunal ruling: Victory is triumph of light over darkness – Tinubu
• I’m alive by God’s grace, I saw many colleagues during civil war fall before me – Buhari
• Tinubu visits Buhari after fuel crisis, naira redesign criticism

Also speaking, the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, described Makinde as a smart young man who knew when to strike for his good and has since left Wike in his shenanigans.

He said: “Governor Makinde is a very smart young man. Give it to him, he knows when to say yes and when to say no. He knows when to talk and when to keep mum. He has since left Wike in his shenanigans.

“Makinde is seeing the handwriting on the wall and he is making his moves. The only person who is still in doubt is Governor Wike and as an outgoing governor, we wish him the best.

“Nigerians know for a fact that Atiku is the next President of this country. Seyi is close to his people in Oyo and the people know that their yearning for good governance will be realised with Atiku than with any other candidate. That was what the people demonstrated when the governor kicked off his re-election campaign.”