Oyo state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, has warned former Ekiti state governor Ayo Fayose not to join the All progressives Congress (APC).
According to the governor, Fayose may end up in jail like some former governors who, upon having issues to settle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), joined APC, but only ended up being jailed.
He also said Fayose has been a cog in the wheel of advance of the People's Democratic Party y (PDP) in the southwest, urging him to retrace his steps by allying properly with the party in the region.
The governor, who refrained from mentioning Fayose pointedly, however offered bold hints of reference to him as he said the leader causing the problem within the party in the region had a case with the EFCC. Both Makinde and Fayose have been at loggerheads lately over who heads the party to call the shots in the region.
He spoke Thursday through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Taiwo Adisa, warning him to stay within PDP to resolve the case he had with the EFCC.
Makinde explained if Fayose defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, he might end up in jail like former Governor Joshua Dariye; former Governor Jolly Nyame, and Senator Orji Kalu, who was sent to jail and freed after a while, just after they joined the APC.
His words: “They told me that one of our leaders has been the major individual causing trouble in the South-West (PDP) and we deliberated to ask why that is so, and we said maybe because of the EFCC case or something like that.
“I said that shouldn’t be, because it is better to stay with your own party. Even if you have the EFCC case, the people that went and joined them [the ruling party]; there is Joshua Dariye from Plateau and Reverend Jolly Nyame from Taraba, they ended up in jail. Even Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, it was only God that brought him out," the governor said.
He also advised Fayose stop supporting factions, but stay with the party and "...do what is right for the party".
Hinging his advise to Fayose regarding continued stay within the party on his belief that APC cannot capture the presidency in 2023, Makinde said: “So, that leader should forget about the EFCC case and do what is right for the party."
The governor again clarified those seeking to become the president on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in 2023 should bury such ambitions as, according to him, God and the Nigerian people have rejected the party.
"Because I will just say it, for 2023, even God has rejected APC; the people of Nigeria have rejected them. They can be jumping around saying this one or that one wants to be president in 2023, if we (PDP) get in, there will be double jeopardy for him because he will have to run back from APC to PDP," Makinde said.
He had earlier submitted the urgent need of Nigerians was not a Yoruba presidency but adequate security and restructuring of the country which he said would address some of the problems.
According to the governor, the suspension of the Chairman of the PDP in South-West was illegal, saying the members lacked such power stressing that the members that purportedly removed Dayo Ogungbenro as the zonal chairman did not have the required number to do so.
He noted the reconciliation committee headed by former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, would continue with their assignment to unite the party in the South-West.
He said: “They don’t have the power to suspend the chairman. Even if you go constitutional, you know, five out of 12 is more than 45 per cent. So, let’s even say they want to follow the constitution, you will need at least two-thirds by the constitution of the party. And two-third of 12 is eight.
“So, they don’t have that power and I am speaking now as the only governor of PDP in the South-West, the national leadership will respect my position on such matters,” Makinde said.
