MAKINDE REMAINS ABSENT WHILE ATIKU CAMPAIGNS IN OYO

Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde was conspicuously absent from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign rally at Ibadan’s historic Mapo Hall on Thursday afternoon.

Major PDP stakeholders in the state, however, attended the rally alongside key supporters of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, urging party members and supporters in the state to vote for Governor Makinde for a second term.

The atmosphere at the Ibadan rally suggested that Atiku and Makinde may have reconciled behind the scenes in order to forge a united front ahead of the upcoming general elections next month.

As the rally begins, those who have spoken so far, including the Master of the Ceremony, Senator Dino Melaye; director-general of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council and Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; and the presidential candidate’s wife, Hajia Amina Titi Atiku Abubakar, have said the political differences between Atiku and Makinde have been resolved, calling on all party members and supporters to re-elect.

Remember that Makinde is one of the five disgruntled PDP governors known as the G-5 or Integrity Group, who are at odds with the party’s national leadership over the continued tenure of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the party’s national chairman since the emergence of Atiku as the presidential candidate.

The G-5 has repeatedly demanded Ayu’s removal in order for a Southerner to take over the PDP as a condition for supporting Atiku’s presidential bid.

Oyo State is the first G-5 state to welcome Atiku’s presidential campaign train, and the last South-West state to do so.

Details to follow…