Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has called on members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to work together and unite their bases, saying the 2027 general election would be APC versus Nigerians.
The governor noted that with a united PDP, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would have an uphill task in the election, especially going by the harsh economic situation Nigerians are facing.
The governor said that the people of Nigeria would speak against the ruling party in 2027 as they did in Oyo and Osun states, noting, however, that PDP members must come together and work in unison ahead of that time.
The governor stated this in Ibadan, on Saturday, during the commissioning of the South-West PDP Zonal Office, which he personally built in honour of the late former PDP National Vice Chairman (South-West), Hon. Olasoji Adagunodo- Oluwatukesi, and donated to the party.
Governor Makinde also reiterated his position on the 2027 presidential election, saying that despite the clamour for him to join the race, he had not assigned anyone to campaign for him.
He said, “People have been campaigning and doing a lot of permutations; but let me say this again: If I want to contest for any position, I will say it myself. Nobody would set an agenda for me apart from myself.
“They have also been talking that the ruling party, APC, is scheming and infiltrating all the parties to make sure there is division and crisis in those parties. If you are accusing the ruling party of not allowing other parties to get their acts together so that there won’t be opposition in 2027, my position is that there are certain things you have under your control. If Governor Adeleke and I would cooperate for the growth and benefit of our party in the South-West, it is beyond the ruling party to destabilize our party.”
He added: “Please, let us all work together and unite our bases. That is all we need. The next general election would be APC versus Nigerians, not even APC versus PDP.
“But, let us just do our own bit to unite our party and bases and then allow the people of Nigeria to speak when the time comes.
“The people spoke in Oyo and Osun states. They will do it in Nigeria. So, don’t fret. Don’t think external people have control over what will happen in our party. Yes, they may try; they can only succeed when we allow it.
“I want to admonish PDP members all over the country, let us unite and the way to demonstrate it is if you know one or two people in Ondo State, call them and tell them that the PDP is united. Tell them that the Ondo election coming up in two weeks from now would be an indication of where Nigeria would be in 2027.
“I am glad we are opening this House. It is a demonstration of our unity. I am also glad that our Acting National Chairman is here. The kind of story they would have loved to hear is that the suspension and counter-suspension saga is still on, but that is behind us.
“We are even more united to move forward. So, I thank you all for being here.”
Makinde charged all PDP members to work together and unite for total victory in Ondo State governorship election coming up on November 16, 2024.
He highlighted the cooperation and cordial relationship between himself and his Osun State counterpart, Senator Ademola Adeleke, assuring that they would work hand in hand to unite the South-West and that once that was done, it would have effect on the party at the national level.
Governor Makinde, who extolled the virtues of the late Adagunodo, announced the appointment of his son, Soji Adagunodo (Jnr) as Special Adviser to the Governor on Regional Integration, while he also appointed a member of the Oyo State Cultural Troupe, who performed at the event, as a Special Adviser, with immediate effect.
The governor also lauded the acting national chairman of the party, Amb. Umar Ilya Damagum, former governors of Abia and Benue states, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu and Mr Samuel Ortom, among other leaders, for attending the event.
He handed over the documents of the building to the acting national chairman, Ambassador Damagum.
He said: “My brother, Governor Adeleke, I want to appreciate you today for being here.
“Yes, we had issues and disagreed, especially on the control of zonal executive positions. But your coming here today has shown your magnanimity, which means that whatever happened in the past is behind us. We fought and settled it, and that is the spirit of PDP.
“Those of you thinking that the only way you can excel is for us to keep experiencing division in the PDP, I can tell you that the South-West of Nigeria is leading the way.
“I said it before that when we look at Nigeria, if the South-West is united, Nigeria will unite. The PDP governors in the South-West are here and our leaders are here too. Also from outside of South-West, the lovers of the region are here; former Governor Ikpeazu from the South East, former Governor Ortom from the North Central, thank you so much for identifying with us.”
Similarly, Osun State governor, Adeleke, said the commissioning of the PDP South-West Zonal secretariat in honour of the late Adagunodo was a call for the party to forget the past and work for the unity and progress of the party.
He admonished all party faithful to be focused to retain the existing PDP states and capture more states and the Federal Government in future elections.
Adeleke, who appreciated Governor Makinde for honouring the memory of Adagunodo, who hailed from Osun State, said: “I am in a sober mood, because our brother is not here with us to witness the honour being done to his memory. I pray God Almighty grant him eternal rest.
“The significance of today’s event is the clarion call for unity and deeper brotherhood among PDP at home and abroad. We must forget the past of division and unite for the good of our dear party.
“It is better for us to fight each other inside the Government House than outside. We must refocus attention on building strong administrative operational structures.
“With that, we can deploy for elections, retain our existing states and even expand our reach across the six zones of the federation.”
In his remarks, the Acting National Chairman, thanked Governor Makinde for his efforts, calling on other zones to emulate and replicate the good gesture.
He described the new edifice as a fullfilment of Governor Makinde’s promise and testament to the dedication, commitment and zeal of the late South-West Zonal Chairman, Adagunodo.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Adagunodo family, the son of the deceased, Deacon Oluwatukesi Soji Adagunodo (Jnr), thanked all the leaders of the party and equally encouraged them to use the edifice as a place of solution for the nation’s problems.
In his welcome remarks, the chairman, PDP South-West, Alhaji Kamorudeen Ajisafe, who spoke through the Zonal Secretary, Honourable Owokoniran Rahman, thanked Governor Makinde for fulfilling his promise to build a befitting edifice in memory of Adagunodo
The event had in attendance the chairman of the PDP National Reconciliation Committee and former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Ondo State PDP gubernatorial candidate, Chief Agboola Ajayi, Ogun State PDP gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general election, Chief Ladi Adebutu; members of the PDP National Working Committee; wife of the deceased, Deaconess Adeyinka Adagunodo and other members of the family.
Also in attendance were the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Bayo Lawal; as well as former deputy governors of Oyo State, Engr. Hamid Gbadamosi and Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja.
Others were the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin represented by the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Mohammed Fadeyi; former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; Chief of Staff, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi; Deputy Chief of Staff, Honourable Fola Oyekunle; Co-chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun, religious leaders and other government functionaries.