By Ayodele Oni
The Congress of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in the South West is becoming more interesting by the day as the battle of wits between Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state and former Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state thickens.
Just on Monday, some PDP Chieftains in Ondo state threw their weight behind Fayose describing him as the recognized leader of the party in south west.
Ondo state is sponsoring a candidate, Chief Eddy Olafeso, for the Vice Chairmanship of PDP in the zone for the second time.
While addressing the Ondo state delegation in his Lagos home, Fayose had described Governor Makinde as a toddler in politics.
But in a swift reaction, a faction of the PDP in Ekiti state loyal to Governor Makinde distanced its members from Fayose’s outburst.
A statement by the factional  Chairman, Mr Kehinde Odebunmi dissociated the party from the statement credited to the former Governor Ayo Fayose’s faction, attacking Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
The party expressed displeasure over what it described as the distabilisation tendencies of the former Governor, saying it was necessary for Fayose to acknowledge the fact that the party is not his private business where he gives order to the party’s exco to attack his perceived enemies.
It reminded the former Governor that the party, has only one sitting Governor in the six states in the zone and could no longer afford distabilisation engagements among its members, ochestrated by individuals who assume ownership of the party.
“We are using this medium to appeal to all our leaders across the Southwest Zone, especially those who are aggrieved for one reason or another, to please give peace a chance in the best interest of the party and the populace.”
The party said there was no controversy regarding who is the leader of the party in the Southwest Zone. The Constitution and the convention of the party has conferred this on Gov. Seyi Makinde.
The statement advised former Governor Ayo Fayose to support Makinde’s leadership and allow peace to reign in the zone, instead of leading another group to oppose him.
“Gov. Seyi Makinde is the leader of PDP in Southwest and the Ekiti State Chapter is solidly behind him.
“This is not to say that former Governor Ayo Fayose can be wished away in the scheme of things as one of the party leaders in the zone, but he should understand that he does not own the party and as such, should respect the existing political organogram/arrangements which he once benefitted from, as the only elected PDP Governor in the zone between 2014 and 2018.”
