By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State ,Udom Emmanuel, has sad that some political forces with some hidden agenda may be behind the purported Presidential ambition of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
He maintained that he is not aware of the quest by the Oyo State Governor to contest for the Presidency in 2027.
At an interactive session with the Media in Abuja, the formee Akwa Ibom State Governor, stated that as a friend, close political ally, and fellow trusted and loyal Peoples Democratic Party PDP, member, Governor Makinde has not informed him that of his interest in running for the country’s Presidency in 2027.
“Governor Makinde is my friend, a former colleague, and one of the strong leaders of the PDP to which I belong. I can say on my honour that Seyi has never told me he is running for President.
“If we are as close as we are, and he hasn’t told me, then, I suspect that people are just using that slant as a means of blackmail to either prevent him from continuing to champion the rebuilding process of our Party, or to sow seeds of discord between him and the President.
“It is normal that anybody who desires to contest for any political office will undertake consultations to get the support of people. But my friend Seyi has not reached out to me or anyone that I know on that matter”, Emmanuel stated.
The Source reports that Governor Makinde, who, alongside four other PDP Governors – Nyesom Wike of Rivers State , Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, and Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State aligned with President Bola Tinubu of the rival All Progressive Congress, APC, to truncate the 2023 Presidential ambition of their fellow PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has, of recent, been touted as one of those interested in flying the party’s Presidential flag in 2027.
Similarly, he has for whatever reasons, seen as taking an opposite route in the festering crisis rocking the once political behemouth since after the 2023 general elections.
In what a few have come to perceive as a mere stage-managed action, the Oyo state Governor and the Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, have found themselves on different sides of the rebuilding processes of the Party, with speculations rife that Makinde will be vying for the Presidency as one way of smoothening the way for his big brother, President Tinubu’s second term in office.
However, former Governor Emmanuel, remained adamant about the commitment and loyalitty of Makinde to the PDP cause .
“What I know, and I am certain of, is that he (Seyi) is a true party man, who like many of us in the PDP, is totally committed to the resuscitation of the party that offered us a platform for political recognition and service to our people.
“We cannot just abandon the party. It is morally wrong to do so. We run a mult-party democratic structure which must be nourished to stability.
“There will always be a ruling party and opposition parties and we must imbibe the spirit of political tolerance that helps to consolidate democracy in nations where it is practised, which Nigeria is one”, Emmanuel noted .
The former Akwa Ibom State Governor, also, explained that his low political profile since leaving office in 2023, is in tandem with his resolve to leave the stage for his predecessor.
“I had promised at the twilight of my administration that when I leave office I will leave the stage for my predecessor and retreat to my private life and engagements, and that is exactly what I have done .
” I have returned to my private life. But that doesn’t mean that I have left or retired from politics . Afterall, I still relate with and share ideas with my leaders at different levels, especially Governors who ask for my opinion on diverse matters relating to public governance .
“I believe that there is time for everything. That is what the Holy Book says. So, there is time for business, I mean everything has its time and I am abiding by that principle. Emmanuel added.
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