Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has been told to stop sucking like a
baby and acting like he is over and above everyone in the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP), while disrespecting those who stayed in the
party between 2007 and 2017, when he was wandering from one political
party to the other.
Lere Olayinka, aide to the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo
Fayose, who was reacting to a statement on Thursday, by Makinde,
warning the party’s National Legal Adviser, Emmanuel Enoidem, said “it
is strange that someone who got the PDP ticket in 2018 through the
benevolence of some leaders of the party and members of the National
Working Committee (NWC), can now be issuing warning to the National
Legal Adviser for simply doing his job.”
Olayinka, who said Governor Makinde, should stop parading himself as
the Premier of the South-West, added that “Those of us who stayed in
the PDP to defend and hold it together when he (Makinde) was wandering
from one party to the other, deserve some level of respect from him
because we are his seniors in this party.”
“On this one, I speak for myself and not as Media Aide to Fayose or
Spokesperson of the South-West PDP and I wish to tell Governor Makinde
that he is not more a committed member of PDP than me.
“The governor needs to be told that the party is bigger than him and
he can’t be ordering NWC members around as if they are his aides. The
governor should also be mindful that not everyone can be bought.
“The Legal Adviser and other National Officers as well as leaders of
the party that Makinde is now disrespecting were there to help him
when he returned to the party in November 2017 after he had contested
the governorship election as candidate of the Social Democratic Party
(SDP).
“In 2015, Governor Makinde was prevailed upon to accept senatorial
ticket and stay in the PDP, but he refused. He instead decamped to
SDP. So when did he become more of a loyal member of PDP than people
like us? Did this same Makinde not take PDP to court in 2014 over the
governorship primary election, using one Demola Adelowo that he left
in the party to continue with the case while he moved to SDP?
“When he could not get the PDP Senatorial ticket in 2007, did he not
go to court against PDP and Senator Kamoru Adedibu to court and was
the case not in court till 2011 that he returned to the party?
“Isn’t it funny that this same Makinde, who took PDP to court twice is
now the one issuing warning to the National Legal Adviser of the
party, for simply acting to protect the law and the party? May be he
wants to come and take over the NWC and run it along with Oyo State.
“On venue of the Zonal Congress, it is clear that Governor Makinde has
perfected plans to unleash his thugs led by Lamidi Mukaila (aka
Auxiliary) on those perceived as opposing him and I am sure the party
will not endanger the lives of its members by holding the congress in
Ibadan.
“Most importantly, this is not the first time zonal congress or even
PDP primary election will be held outside the location of the
secretariat. In 2003, the governorship primary election between
Senator Rasheed Ladoja and Alhaji Yekini Adeojo was held in Abuja. In
2012, South-West zonal congress was held in Osogbo, Osun State while
that of 2016 was held in Akure, Ondo State.
“That Governor Makinde is oblivious of all these is understandable
because he has never stayed in the PDP long enough to understand the
workings of the party. That’s why it is so convenient for him to place
the same people who worked against PDP in 2019 over and above those
who worked for the party.”
While admonishing the governor to concentrate on governance and stop
fighting imaginary political enemies, Olayinka said it was important
for Governor Makinde to quench the fire in his bedroom before running
around with fire extinguisher, seeking to quench fire in the gatehouse
of other people.
