Makinde on Wike: Politics shouldn’t be about going Into the gutters
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has its leaders at loggerheads over the planned national convention as Governor Seyi Makinde aims a dig at Nyesom Wike.
Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state, made a snide remark at the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, after the party’s southern consultative zoning meeting in Lagos on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Wike had revealed that he was not invited to the NEC meeting of the PDP and as such disapproved of Ibadan as the venue for the national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16.
“I am not aware that they are going to a convention in Ibadan. As a NEC member, I have not been informed, nor have I been invited to the NEC meeting,” he said.
However, reports revealed that the former governor of Rivers State was indeed invited but chose to decline out of his own volition.
It was the allegation made by Wike that provoked a response from the Oyo state governor, who accused the minister of being morally low.
“Personally, when people go low, or they go into the gutters, I don’t go with them,” Makinde responded.
Earlier this month, Wike said the internal conflict in the PDP would not be over until the party recognises Dan Orbih, an ally of his, as its chairman.
On February 22, during the south-south zonal congress, Dan Orbih was re-elected as the party’s chairman. However, in March, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) disowned the congress and rejected Orbih’s election.
Some party leaders, including state chairmen of the PDP in the south-east and south-south, have now echoed their grievances, stating the disunity in the party.
Having not been invited to the zoning meeting in Lagos, the PDP leaders described the meeting as secretive and vowed to take all necessary steps to resist the outcome of the meeting.
Makinde, however, acknowledged their complaints and said efforts would be made to reach out to the aggrieved members.
“I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching, you know. We want to give a PDP,” he said.
Seyi Makinde and Nyesom Wike used to be allies but are now divided by their different political interest which may have a devastating effect on the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
