Former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Elder Wole Oyelese, on Wednesday, in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, advised Governor Seyi Makinde to retrace his steps over his opposition to the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2023 presidential poll, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Recall that Makinde, who is one of five governors, tagged G5 led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, has vowed not to support Atiku’s presidential campaign unless the national chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyiorcha Ayu is removed from office.
But, Oyelese, one of the PDP chieftains in Oyo, who is also the leader of a group, Atiku Victory Vanguard 2023 said “there is limit for everything. He (Makinde) has reached the limit. It is time to come back and let us rebuild our party.”
Addressing the coordinators of his group in all the 33 local government areas of Oyo State, he stated: “Makinde should retreat now so that he can fight in another day. Politics is not a do-or-die affairs. It is not difficult to see that this time around, Atiku is God’s own project and he should be part of it.”
According to Oyelese, “the governor is surrounded by many people, who cannot tell him the truth to let him know that a lot of damage has been done to the party. There is a lot of work to be done if PDP is to remain in power in Oyo State.
“Coalition that brought Governor Seyi Makinde to power is gone. Most leaders and gatekeepers of the party are either gone or alleniated. His colleague governors like Wike and others have nothing to lose because they have concluding their two terms in office and laid foundation for their successors.
“This is not so for Oyo because Makinde is doing his first term in office and seeking re-election. It is the party members who have a lot to lose if the PDP cannot retain power as the party controlling Oyo State government. His re-election battle should take the front burner and enough of all this jamboree.”
He, however, declared that”our mission is to ensure victory for Atiku/Okowa presidential candidacy”, contending that “whoever is fighting or working against Atiku is fighting us. We are all witnesses to the dwindling economy in Nigeria and the exorbitant prices of goods, commodities and services.
“Atiku is the only presidential candidate imbued with leadership qualities and technical know-how to restore the lost glory of the nation and salvage Nigeria’s ship heading for the rocks,” Oyelese posited.
