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S/WEST: Ekiti PDP faction slams Fayose for attacking Makinde

A FACTION of the Ekiti State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has lambasted former governor Ayodele Fayose for attacking Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state.

Fayose had on Monday described Makinde as a “baby governor” who lacks the requisite experience needed to lead the PDP in the Southwest region.

But reacting to the former governor’s statement, a faction of the party loyal to Senator Biodun Olujimi, dissociated itself from the Fayose’s stance.

The party expressed its displeasure through a statement, titled, ‘Ekiti PDP disowns Fayose, backs Makinde’s S’ West leadership signed by the factional Publicity Secretary, Chief Sanya Adesua, in Ado Ekiti.

Adesua said the undisputable leader of the party in the South West is the Oyo State Governor, in accordance with the PDPs rules and conventions.

The party in the statement urged Fayose “to support Makinde’s leadership and allow peace to reign in the zone, instead of leading another group to oppose him.”

“This is not to say that former governor Ayo Fayose can be wished away in the scheme of things as one of the party leaders in the zone, but he should understand that he does not own the party and as such, should respect the existing political organogram/arrangements which he once benefitted from, as the only elected PDP governor in the zone between 2014 and 2018,” he stated.

The PDP factional spokesperson said the party, which had only one sitting governor out of the six states in the South-West, would not allow individuals who arrogate the party’s ownership to themselves orchestrate destabilisation in the party.

Adesua said the Olujimi group preferred leaders and members working collectively to forestall any distraction from focus of winning elections for the party and providing quality leadership for the people of Ekiti State.

Fayose and Olujimi have been at loggerheads over the leadership of the party in Ekiti State.

However, speaking on the festering crisis rocking the PDP in the Southwest, a former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr Wole Oyelese, blamed the situation on the inability of the national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, to caution the warring factions.

Speaking in Ibadan on Tuesday, Oyelese, said, “It is unfortunate that the party at the national level allowed things to get to this level.

“My expectation is by now, the national body especially the national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, should have cautioned the two of them. The crisis between Governor Seyi Makinde and Ayo Fayose, shouldn’t have been allowed to get to this level.”

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