Governor Seyi Makinde Boycotts Atiku/Okowa Rally in Ibadan as Iyorchia Calls on Aggrieved Members to Return

By Uche Amunike

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, was undeniably absent at the  presidential campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held by Atiku Abubakar and his team at Mapo Hall, at the Oyo state capital, Ibadan on Thursday, even though he was said to have mobilised their loyalists and candidates of the PDP Presidential election, for the rally.

Recall that Seyi Makinde is one of the five governors of the PDP who have distanced themselves from Atiku’s campaigns so far. They demanded that the national chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu should resign or else they would not support Atiku’s presidential bid.

The other governors who joined the campaign train at the Ibadan rally with Atiku and Ifeanyi Okowa were Governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state and Ademola Adeleke of Osun state.

Some national leaders like former Vice President Namadi Sambo, former Kogi State Senator Dino Melaye and wife of the presidential candidate, Titi Abubakar were also present.

Speaking, during his address at the rally, Ayu described Seyi Makinde as a strong member of the party, adding that he was calling on all aggrieved members of the PDP to return as there was always bound to be disagreements in any family. Hear him: ‘He is a member of the family and in the family, sometimes you have a disagreement, and sometimes you will have people who are not happy. As if either of Obidigwe in Nigeria, I am calling on all our aggrieved members to come back home.’

Atiku thanked Makinde, the party candidates and loyalists alike for making the rally well organised, while promising to restructure Nigeria and grant autonomy to both the state and local governments, if elected.

On his part, Osun state Governor Adeleke stated that he was hopeful that the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, will come out victorious in the entire six states that make up the Southwest region. The PDP presently has only two governors in the region, including Adeleke who recently defeated the incumbent All Progressives Congress governor in July. He urged Nigerians to cast their votes massively for the PDP’s presidential flag bearer in the February general election.

His words: ‘I have seen the high level of turnout and goodwill the PDP enjoys across Yoruba land. This was demonstrated in Osun State when I was massively voted into office. The light of grace started in Osun and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is spreading it to all parts of South West and Nigeria’, he said.

Yorubas will support Atiku/Okowa candidacy because he is the most experienced, most tested, and the most stable to protect the interests of all Nigerians. Yorubas want an all-inclusive Nigeria and only Atiku can deliver on that,” he added.

‘Osun State will vote PDP. Same for Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, and Lagos states. Atiku’s blueprint is the only one that can take Nigeria out of the wood’, Governor Adeleke declared.

‘Next month is around the corner. Vote PDP at all levels. Secure your future. Osun people have shown the template. We must copy Osun State. Osun State hosts the cradle of Yorubaland and Osun is now PDP enjoying rule of law, due process, and good governance.’