A former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has explained why he shunned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-West leaders’ meeting to reconcile him with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
It can be recalled that Makinde and Fayose has been in the news in the past months over the leader of the party in South west.
The battle, which has lingered for some months, had even recently seen the aides of the two engaging in a war of words on social media.
Fayose had in Lagos insisted that Makinde was not the PDP leader in the South-West, noting that leadership should be earned and not for anyone as a title.
The ex-governor spoke while receiving prominent members of the party who paid him a solidarity visit.
The delegation was led by Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, representing Ondo South District in the National Assembly.
Fayose said an ex-Ondo State Information Commissioner, Dr Eddy Olafeso, should be the next PDP National Vice Chairman (West), saying this was the agreement made in Makinde’s house at Ibadan, Oyo State.
“Governor Makinde is not my leader. He is my follower. Respect should beget respect. I have been a warrior. They thought I will be with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission now. But, I am surviving,” he said.
The hope of amicable resolution of the crisis rocking the PDP) in the Southwest between Governor Seyi Makinde camp and the camp of the former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Thursday suffered a setback as a stakeholder meeting slated for the Oyo Government House was stalled.
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The meeting which was held at the Oyo State Government House, Ibadan had Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Segun Oni, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, Makinde and others in attendance.
A competent source disclosed to our reporter that even though Fayose was favourably disposed to attending the meeting, his loyalists told him pointedly in the meeting held in his Lagos residence yesterday that they will not sit on the same table with Governor Makinde, whom they accused of “acting like a baby politician and promoting factions in Ogun, Osun and Ekiti States.”
They also cited the suspension of the Chairman of Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State, Hon. Taiwo Iyiola, just because he held meeting with Zonal Chairmanship aspirant, Dr Eddy Olafeso, in the residence of Alhaji Bisi Olopoeyan.
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Fayose, his loyalists and some PDP leaders in Oyo State who are supporting Dr Eddy Olafeso’s bid to return as the National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (South-West) were absent at the meeting.
When contacted on Thursday, Mr Lere Olayinka, the media aide to Fayose said although the former governor wanted to attend the meeting, his loyalists said they would not sit on the same table with Makinde because of his utterances and actions.
Olayinka said, “Fayose did not attend the meeting. Those invited from the other side said they were not going to be part of the meeting. They said they did not want to go to the Government House or sit on the same table with Governor Makinde.
“The impression as at yesterday (Wednesday) was that the meeting would be shifted but I believe Governor Wike just came to attend it for formality sake.
“One thing is that nothing can be achieved without the other side at the meeting.”
