Makinde begins second term campaign, faces multiple battles

January 6, 2023

3.5 min readCategories: News

On Thursday, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2019 began the campaign for his re-election.

Although the historic Mapo Hall, the venue of the rally was jam-packed, there are clear indications that Makinde’s road to second term would be rough.

First, it seems the governor and some PDP chieftains in the state are not on the same page with the candidate that they will support in the February 25 presidential poll.

On Wednesday, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (State), Jumoke Akinjide; an ex-Deputy Governor of the state, Hazeem Gbolarumi and another former Minister, Mines and Steel Development, Wole Oyelese, held a solidarity walk for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, whom Makinde and other four aggrieved governors had withheld support for.

Makinde, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Benue State, Samuel Ortom and Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi have refused to campaign for Atiku because of the refusal of the latter to prevail on the PDP National Chairman, Iyorcha Ayu to step down for a southerner to lead the party.

Also, PDP chieftains including Adebisi Olopoeyan, Mulikat Adeola, Ajibola Muraina and a host of others who played key roles in the governor’s re-election in 2019 have parted ways with him.

Although the All Progressives Congress, the main opposition party in the state fought its own ‘civil war’ as its governorship candidate in 2019, Adebayo Adelabu, has defected to the Accord Party, where he will contest the governorship poll, the APC governorship candidate, Teslim Folarin, is an experienced politician, who would give Makinde a good fight. The Accord Party led by Adelabu is also forming a coalition to dislodge Makinde.

At the Thursday rally in Ibadan, the aggrieved governors disclosed that Makinde would reveal their preferred presidential candidate to the people of the state in no distance time.

The governors asked Nigerians to vote for all the party’s candidates for governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and Houses of Assembly during the elections.

Benue State governor, Ortom, who was introduced by the host governor, Makinde, solicited support of the people of the state for the re-election bid of the governor.

Ortom said, “We want to assure you that the Integrity Group and the G-5 Governors are committed members of PDP in our various states. We have a challenge with the national leadership of our party because they have failed to deploy internal conflict resolution mechanism to solve the problems that arose after the convention.

“We are committed to PDP in our various states. At the appropriate time, we are going to let you know what to do. We are united. We are together. Don’t listen to gossips and social media ads. We are committed to PDP, and we are working for all our candidates in our states. All our candidates are going to win the governorship, the Senate, House of Representatives, and the House of Assembly. We are going to deliver to PDP.”

The Abia State governor, Ikpeazu, also said, “Seyi Makinde is the Youth Leader of G-5, and he represents our vision for a better Nigeria, where there shall be respect for people and where everybody is important.”

Ikpeazu also appealed to the people to re-elect Makinde for a second term in office based on his achievements.

The Enugu State Governor, Ugwuanyi, stated, “We thank God for the gift of GSM (Governor Seyi Makinde). He has performed. He is active. Our prayer is that he returns to the Government House in 2023. I am a second term governor and by the special grace of God, I am in your support. Seyi Makinde will serve from May 2023 to May 2027 in Jesus Name.”

In his address, the Oyo State Governor, Makinde, appreciated his G5 colleagues, party loyalists in the state, and people of the state for their support in 2019.

The governor therefore reeled out his achievements and asked the people to support his re-election bid.

“Under Omituntun 1.0 (referring to his first term in office), I promised a government that would put people of Oyo State first. And our decisions have always taken the people of Oyo State first. Now, it is time to upgrade. It is time for Omituntun 2.0.” He added.

 

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