Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde says he will not descend so low with the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike opposing the forthcoming National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
Recall that Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a key figure in the crisis rocking the PDP, had vowed to reject the Ibadan convention scheduled for November 15 and 16.
The FCT Minister had also denied knowledge of the forthcoming convention.
However, Makinde while newsmen shortly after the Southern Zonal Consultative Meeting of the party held in Lagos, said, when asked about the opposition from the Wike group, “Personally, when people go low, or they go into the gutters, I don’t go with them.”
The meeting tagged, “PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit,” had in attendance Governors Makinde of Oyo State and Douye Diri of Bayelsa.
Others are Deputy Governor of Enugu, Barrister Ifeanyi Ossai who represents Governor Peter Mba; Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party, Senator Adelphus Wabara and Senator Ben Obi.
Also in attendance were former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George; former Osun State governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Sam Egwu; former governor of Akwa Ibom Udom Emmanuel and former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Jumoke Akinjide,
Others are Dr Ali Odefa, Chief Emma Ogidi; Hon. Nnena Ukeje, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, among others.
But Makinde did not disclose the resolutions of the meeting, saying their decisions on zoning would be communicated to the National Executive Council of the party. The PDP NEC is expected to meet on Monday.
Makinde stated that the party is making efforts to reach out to all aggrieved members in order to build a virile and united party that would serve as a credible alternative to the ruling APC.
The Oyo Governor noted that the calibre of people at the meeting was a strong indication that PDP was not dead as being insinuated in some quarters.
He said, “I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what are we giving to Nigerians because they are watching, you know. We want to give a PDP. In Oyo State, they showed last Saturday that PDP is not dead.
“In most other places of the 12 states, PDP came second in each of those. It’s some indication to us that if we continue to work hard, if we continue to strive hard, if we continue to bring our people together, we’ll get to a point where Nigerians will really start listening to us.”
