“I Am Comfortable In PDP,” – Oyo Gov. Makinde After Visit To Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

“Makinde lacked the courage to see President Tinubu alone” – Fayose

After an audience with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Thursday, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has ruled out dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite the recent wave of defections in his party.

When asked if he’s also considering joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), like his former colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Makinde said he’s comfortable with the PDP.

“I am comfortable in the PDP,” he stated.

Makinde maintained that addressing Nigerian problems requires a bi-partisan approach with contributions from all political parties in the interest of the country.

“We may have issues in this country where you need a bipartisan approach, where there won’t be an issue of APC talking alone or PDP talking alone; where we will have to look at what is the best foot forward in the interest of our nation. So, when you get to that junction, you need everybody on board,” he said.

The Oyo governor arrived at the Aso Villa shortly after Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, who recently defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) came around to see the President.

Both Governors were received separately and proceeded to the President’s  office.

Makinde was a key member of the group of five PDP governors, popularly known as the G5, who opposed the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 general election.

During the 2023 presidential election, Makinde and other members of the G5 openly worked against the PDP candidate and supported Tinubu, who eventually won.

In another account on Governor Makinde’s visit by former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose which he tagged “Untold story of what happened in the Villa during Governor Makinde’s visit to the President today,” said :

“Here is the true story of what happened in the Villa when Governor Seyi Makinde visited the President today (Thursday)

“First, Governor Seyi Makinde demonstrated that he now lacked enough courage to face the President alone. He had to enlist the support of the Plateau State Governor.

“The President told him that if it was about official matters regarding Oyo State, he will listen to him.

“But if it had to do with politics and any claim that it was Wike that angered him to go on TV to accuse him (President) of plotting to turn the country to a one party state, it is better to, as usual, go on TV to say all he (Makinde) had to say.

“He was told pointedly that he can’t come to the closet on political matters to eat his words, while saying another thing to the public.

“Furthermore, the President told Governor Makinde that he was not expecting any support from him regarding 2027, and that he should also expect that he (President) will support his party.

“Lastly, the President made it clear to Makinde that Wike is someone whose support and consistency he (President) can’t deny or wish away.

“Therefore, if Makinde has issues with Wike, that is between the two of them, I should be left out of it.

“That’s why Makinde told the press that he’s comfortable in PDP. It’s because of the reality that there’s nothing for him in APC.

“And after this meeting, shouldn’t Makinde tell the people of Oyo State if he has returned the N30bn he admitted to have received from the Federal Government as intervention fund for the January 2023 Ibadan explosion?”

Fayose had accused Makinde of diverting the N30 billion released to the state by the federal government as intervention fund for the January 2023 explosion in Ibadan towards his presidential ambition.

Makinde denied the allegation saying the fund released was not up to the amount mentioned by Fayose and that the fund is still being kept by the state government.