Ayu, Atiku absent as Wike, others storm Ibadan for Makinde’s re-election campaign

Four governors aggrieved People’s Democratic Party (PDP), known as Group Integrity, on Saturday arrived at the Mapo Hall, Ibadan, the flag-off venue of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s re-election campaign.

The governors arrived at the campaign site in a black minibus after being waited for several hours by supporters and chieftains loyal to the governor.

The governors – Nyesom Wike (Kali), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) – together with Mr. Makinde formed the G5, a group of governors demanding the resignation of the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu. The group also refused to support the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Messrs. Ayu and Atiku were conspicuously absent from the public meeting.

Former governors Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti) were also at the rally and wore special attire worn by the G5 governors.

Mr. Makinde’s wife, Tamunominini, had previously arrived at the venue with the former Speaker of the Oyo House of Representatives, Monsurat Sunmonu.

Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal has also arrived and is sitting in the hall.

Famous Yoruba musician, Saheed Osupa, was on the band stage when the governors arrived at the venue and took the stage.

However, the fun comes to an abrupt halt when the power generating device used to light the stage suddenly shuts down.

The situation that lasted for more than 25 minutes did not stop the supporters from carrying colorful banners and placards. He also danced to music to make up for the power outage.

The main roads leading to Mapo hall are closed.

Some members suspected internal sabotage for the electricity situation but these claims could not be verified at the time of this report.

The audience is angry

While Mr. Makinde and his G5 colleagues continue to work against the interests of the party’s presidential candidate, many who attended Thursday’s rally said they were not comfortable with the situation.

A member of the party, Hakeem Aina, who spoke in Yoruba language, noted that “many are here just to take money, they are not happy with the current structure and situation.

“No one can force me to fight my Heart. I don’t want to come, the secretary of my ward told me to buy money and leave.”

Another member who identified himself as Akoko insisted that the G5 governor was pushing his agenda and not his personal wishes. He said he would vote for Atiku in the presidential election.

“I just came to visit, nothing else,” he said.

“Everything he said is keeping his head. What will our governor do if he does not support Atiku. Will he tell us to vote for APC or another party in February and now instruct us to vote for him during his tenure as governor? I am waiting for his explanation.”

Meanwhile, during the program, supporters started shouting Atiku! My heart!! My heart!!!

Speaking at the rally, the Rivers State governor enjoined the people to re-elect Mr. Makinde adding that the Oyo governor would inform his preferred G5 governorship candidate.

“Let’s thank you (referring to the crowd) for giving assurance to a man who can be trusted and to be trusted, a young man who can go home with both eyes closed, a young man when he says Yes, Yes is Yes, if he says No, no , so he belongs to one of the (Integrity Group) who believe in justice. equality and justice,” said Mr. Wike.

“I don’t want to market a weak product. Do you want to market a weak product (referring to the crowd)? You already know that Seyi Makinde has done well since you gave him the mandate from 2019. Therefore, the only way we can get the further benefit is that it allows them to continue the good work they have started.

“Please use this opportunity and tell all of you (voters) if there is a candidate (for the Oyo governorship election) in another party, today is January 5, 2023, please give me the last announcement, withdraw!

“The people of Oyo have said that PDP. Choose Seyi to be governor, choose DPR, choose NASS (National Assembly). The other (presidency), Seyi, will talk to you.

Members walk for Atiku

Meanwhile, almost 24 hours before the rally, many PDP members and support groups have organized solidarity work for Atiku in Oyo State.

The walk was led by the National Mandate Group, Oyo chapter which is made up of party stalwarts, youth, women and mobilizers from all over the country. He was seen on the main streets of the metropolis of Ibadan walking with banners and campaigning for Atiku ahead of the February 25 presidential election.

Leading the Freedom Walk For Atiku is the former FCT Minister of State, Olajumoke Akinjide; Wole Oyelese, former minister of mines and steel development; Azeem Gbolarumi, former deputy governor of Oyo, and Femi Babalola, who is known as Jogor.

Speaking to journalists in Ibadan on Wednesday, one of the organizers of the group, Ms Akinjide, said Atiku is a Pan-Nigerian who will lead Nigeria out of the current socio-economic and political challenges.

“We will campaign for Atiku in Oyo on the basis of merit and on the basis of loyalty to our great party. There is absolutely no division in the PDP. It’s a fight for space. So, I don’t think the public should worry because the day he makes it, he will be on television smiling and slapping back and calling other brothers and you wonder why you wasted so much energy.

“Let us face what is the concern of 200 million Nigerians which is the Five Point agenda to recover and restore Nigeria proposed by Atiku.

“Our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, promised to unite Nigeria, secure the country, build a prosperous economy, restructure and devolve power to the federal unit, an education system that will allow our people to compete nationally and globally and this is a core issue that interests Nigerians,” he said.