I won’t join anyone in the gutters — Makinde speaks on PDP crisis

• Makinde stressed the PDP must first rebuild itself into a credible platform before discussions on presidential ticket can gain relevance.
• The governor emphasised that internal disputes must not be personalised, urging leaders to focus on Nigeria’s expectations from the PDP.

Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday said he would not descend into the gutters over disagreements in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The governor spoke with journalists shortly after the south-west zoning consultative summit of the PDP held in Lagos.

Politicians loyal to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had earlier dismissed the Lagos meeting, describing its outcome as null and void.

Responding, Makinde said: “Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy.”

He added that differences within the party should not be personalised, stressing that Nigerians were paying attention to its conduct.

“I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching,” he said.

On the issue of zoning the PDP presidential ticket to the South in 2027, Makinde said it was too early for such a discussion.

“We haven’t even gotten there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything you are trying to do will fall flat,” the governor said.

He added that current efforts were focused on building a strong and united PDP that Nigerians could believe in again.

Present at the strategic meeting were the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara; chairman of the party’s national zoning committee and Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri; governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State; and Enugu State governor, Peter Mba, represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai.

Others included former Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; a former deputy national chairman of the party, Bode George; Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; and 12 PDP National Assembly members, among other South-West stakeholders.