Governor Makinde Says Atiku Is A Unifier, But Gives Reasons Why Ayu Should Go As PDP National Boss

By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has  given reasons why the National Chairman of the  Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, should step down from office.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike is leading a camp in the Party which is insisting on the resignation of Ayu from office because he and the Presidential candidate of the Party, Atiku Abubakar, come from the North. This Camp, which member Makinde is, insist that the Chairman should come from the South.

At the Party’s  South-West stakeholders meeting with the Party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital,  Governor Makinde on Tuesday, Governor Makinde gave reasons why Ayu should go. Even though he did not give it as a condition for his support of Atiku’s candidacy, Makinde said:

“The truth is that we do not have any issue either with our party or our candidate. If there are challenges they must be tabled.

“We are supposed to give hope to our people, we want them to listen to us.

“Our party wants to rescue Nigeria and our candidate is a unifier. He wants to restructure Nigeria

“Eight years of the All Progressives Congress have left us sharply divided. The issue is we must practice what we preach. If we want to unify Nigeria, we must unify the PDP first.

“If we want to restructure Nigeria, we must have the willingness to bring inclusivity to the PDP. Do we have the capacity? The answer is resounding yes.

“The message from the South-West PDP is the South-West is asking that the National Working Committee of the PDP should be restructured.

“We are asking the National Chairman to step down so that the South will be fully included. That is the message.”

Speaking on the call for the resignation of Ayu, Atiku said “I have no problem about anywhere any party member comes from but it must be done in accordance with the party’s constitution or regulations and practices.

“What Governor Seyi Makinde is calling for is achievable under the party’s constitution under the party rules and regulations and procedures.

“This constitution must guide whatever changes we make, so that is why we cannot do anything outside that constitution unless it is amended.

“We do not say people should not have different views but all views must go through the party’s constitution, rules regulations and our practices”.

The call for Ayu’s Resignation was first echoed by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and this was supported by some chieftains of the Party who said that the Board of Trustee, BoT, Chairman of the Party, Walid Jibrin, who recently stepped down was from the North, likewise the Presidential Candidate and the National Chairman.

The fate of Ayu however hangs in the balance with Political Campaigns starting at the end of September 2022.

As at the time filing this report, Ayu’s is still in Europe for an undisclosed purpose.