By Adesina Soyooye
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has endorsed the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Party, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Makinde is a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governor.
The Governor endorsed Tinubu in Akure, Ondo State, on Sunday, when the APC Candidate met with the apex Yoruba socio-political Group, Afenifere. The meeting was held at the residence of Chief Reuben Fasoranti.
Fasoranti was the leader of Afenifere, but voluntarily, months ago, handed over to Chief Ayo Adebanjo, allegedly due to old age. Fasoranti is a nonagererian. Incidentally, nether Adebanjo nor the Secretary, Chief Sola Ebiseni, was present at the meeting where Tinubu presented his agenda to the Yoruba. Adebanjo and his faction of Afenifere support Peter Obi of the Labour Party, according to them, for justice and equity.
The attendance at the meeting cut across political parties. Attendees endorsed Tinubu who assured them that he he would bring the trophy home. Fasoranti who prayed for him, also told Tinubu that he would win.
Makinde was represented by his Deputy, Chief Bayo Lawal who assured the meeting that his Governor, Makinde, would abide by the decision of the meeting on Yoruba matters.
Said Lawal: “Baba invited him (Makinde), but he could not reject the call of Baba.
Second, it is a Yoruba matter that is being discussed. In Yorubaland, if you are doing things without inviting Oyo, it is not complete. He (Governor) doesn’t joke with Yoruba matter even though we are not united by the Party, but Region united us, and everything discussed on Yoruba, he (Makinde) would support. If he had not supported Amotekun project, it would not have succeeded.”
Makinde is one of the five PDP Governors led by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who are at loggerheads with the National Chairman of the Party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu. They want Ayu to give way to a Southerner because the Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is from the North. They have, since Wike’s loss to Atiku and Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, distanced themselves from all the activities of the PDP.
Makinde joins Wike and Ortom, who, in the past few days, have hinted they are not likely to support Atiku’s Presidential ambition in 2023.
