Some support groups of the president-elect, Senator Bola Tinubu have declared their supports for the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde ahead of the March 11 governorship election in the state.
The Informant247 understands that the president elect is a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC while Oyo State governor is the leader of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in his state.
Some support groups of Tinubu have declared open support for the re-election bid of Makinde ahead of the forthcoming governorship election of the state.
The concerned support groups of the president elect were:
Southern for Tinubu BAT Democracy,
Yoruba Campaign for BAT and
Tinubu Campaign Movement.
The support groups paid a visit to the deputy governor of the state, Adebayo Lawal, in his residence at the weekend.
They cited the outstanding performances of the governor and his deputy as the reason for their support for them.
This was revealed in a statement jointly signed by the national coordinator of the groups, Mr. Adebayo Moronsole and the spokesperson Mr. Emmanuel Adesanya, and which was made available to newsmen on Sunday, March 5, 2023.
The statement reads: “Seyi Makinde should continue in office for the improved life of the people of Oyo State; therefore, the Southwest for Bola Ahmed Tinubu coalition groups are pledging our support for him and his deputy.”
“The group has no fewer than 372,000 members who have their Permanent Voter Cards.
“Our grassroots mobilisers are now on house-to-house campaign for the re-election of the governor.
“We have enjoyed many good works by Makinde’s administration, including peace and security in the state.
“We urge Oyo State citizens to support this administration’s re-election for the continuation of the good works.”
The deputy governor commended the support groups for their gesture and their willingness to support the continuity of good works in the state.
He added that the governor would be one of the best governors the state has ever had.
“I am saying this without any equivocation, Seyi Makinde is one of the best governors the state has ever produced. He has transformed the state in his almost four years of governance from story to glory.
“For the continuity of this great feat, he deserves to be given another chance to take the state to the land of prosperity.” He, however, assured that under the Omituntun 2.0, more dividends of democracy will be brought to the the people of the state for another four years.
The Informant247 recalls that before the February 25 presidential election, Governor Makinde was one of the five aggrieved governors on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP who refused to support the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar; unless the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu resigns his appointment.
Makinde was one of the members of G5’ — a group of 5 aggrieved governors of the PDP.
Before the February 25 presidential election, the G5 Governors said the resignation of Ayu was a precondition to support Atiku’s presidency.
The G5 PDP governors were:
Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia),
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu),
Samuel Ortom (Benue),
Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and
Nyesom Wike (Rivers).
The Informant247 also recalls that the presidential candidate of the APC, Tinubu, who’s now the president-elect, gathered 449, 884 votes in the presidential election in Oyo state to conquer the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku who had 182, 977 votes.
While reacting to the development, Makinde said he’s glad to be one of those who participated in the process that “redrew the electoral map of Nigeria.”
He made this revelation on Saturday, March 4, 2023 while granting a radio interview.
He said this after being asked who he voted for in the last presidential election.
He said: “I supported fairness, justice and equity. I supported a united Nigeria, a Nigeria that gives opportunity to every part of this country,” Makinde said.
“He (Tinubu) defeated me out there (Makinde’s ward). How do you deliver your ward? You know, you allow people to express themselves. A lot of our people, that is what they decided to do. They decided that look, we want after 8 years of presidency in the north, they want it to come to the south and this place being southwest, one of theirs was a candidate so they supported one of their own.
“When you go into a contest, you have to situate things appropriately. We had a survey before that election; we knew that a lot of our people are agitating for a country where there is fairness, equity and justice. I pointed it out to our party.
“I am glad that I am a part of a process that redrew the electoral map of Nigeria. That arrogance, I believe with the result of last Saturday’s election is basically behind us. Now we know that people will have to seek for alignment. If you want to rule this country, you are not just going to say oh, because I am from a certain part of this country, then that is the only qualification I require to rule this country. Now, you have to build bridges, reach out to others.”
3 of the G5 governors who failed to achieve their political ambitions (senatorial bid) were :
Samuel Ortom of Benue,
Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu.
When asked whether the people of the state would vote for him or not, he said: “Well, that is left to the people of Oyo state. If I have to choose between my political survival and doing what is right and just within the political space in Nigeria, I will choose to forgo my political career,” he said.
The Governor said he’s confident that he will emerge winner of the governorship election as he persuaded the people to cast their votes for the PDP in all positions.