Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Wednesday told the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, that the National Chairman of the party, Iyiorcha Ayu must step down as a precondition to secure the Southwest caucus for 2023.
He insisted that Ayu must step down to allow Southerners in the top hierarchy of the party.
Makinde made the position of South-West leaders of the party known at the zonal stakeholders’ meeting held at the Prof. Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
The Nation reports that he said the resolution is part of the demand of the members of the party across the Southwest region, saying if the party is committed to its plan of unifying Nigerians and restructuring it, it must begin from the party.
According to Makinde, if the issue is addressed, especially, changing the face of the party ahead of the election, the Southern part of the country will feel included in the top hierarchy of the party, noting that the current structure tilts power and position to a particular part of the country against the other.
Speaking on behalf of the Southwest, Makinde said although the PDP has the capacity to win the 2023 general elections, it must start with restructuring itself to have all the members on the same page.
Makinde said “We are where we want to talk. There’s a saying that when two brothers go into a room to talk and they come out laughing, they say, the likelihood is that, they have not told themselves the truth. But, when two brothers come out looking forlorn, that means they must have told themselves the truth.
“People have spoken here and they have spoken about the positive sides of things but we do have challenges in our party. We have issues to address but one good thing is we have the capacity to address those issues.
“I have seen people abuse me on social media saying this thing is about Wike, Makinde, Ortom, Ikpeazu or Ugwuanyi. The truth is we do not have any issue either with our party or with our candidate.
“If there are challenges, we must bring it on the table so that we can address those challenges and that is to ensure that our journey is smooth and we can get to our destination. This is not about individuals. I see people talk saying this happened during our presidential convention or because someone was selected as vice presidential candidate. Those are issues that are behind us; it has happened; it has happened.
“And this is where we are. Are there issues coming out of those that we need to address so that we can be successful at the end of the day? The answer is Yes and we will address them.
“Integrity and honour must be a part of our national psyche. We have spoken about movement, we have spoken about the youths, we have spoken about what they are looking for. Our people are in a state of hopelessness; that is what eight years of APC have brought upon us. It is the reality.
“But we are supposed to give hope to our people. We want them to listen to us, to hear our message to them. For us to be able to do that, the Yoruba have a saying that if someone promises to give you cloth, you will firstly look at what he or she is wearing. If the person is wearing what is befitting and what he admires, then you know that the person has the capacity to give you what you can wear.”
He added: “The Southwest PDP is asking that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP should be restructured such that what you have in the face of Nigerians right now which is our candidate is from the North-East, the PDP national chairman is from the North-Central, what was floated a few days back that Governor Aminu Tambuwal is the Director General of the Atiku campaign, who is from the North-West, maybe that has happened, maybe it has not happened, but he has the quality and capacity to be the DG of this campaign but we must resolve the issue of what we have in the face of Nigerians by asking the national chairman to step down so that the PDP in the Southern part of the country will feel included in the top hierarchy of PDP. That is the message. Anybody can kill the messenger if he so wished.”
Reacting to the Southwest PDP demand, Atiku said: “I have no problem about wherever any member of the party comes from but it must be done in accordance with our constitution, our regulations and our practices.
“Therefore, what Governor Seyi Makinde is calling for is achievable, under our constitution, under our conventions, under our rules, under our regulations and under our procedures.
“So, those institutions must guide whatever changes we make. That is why we cannot do anything outside the constitution unless it is amended. We cannot do anything under our laws unless those rules are amended to reflect what we want them to be.”
NAN reports the governor saying the PDP is talking about unifying the country, talking toward the government of national unity.
According to Makinde: “Well, the issue is that we must practice what we preach. If we want to unify Nigeria, we must unify PDP first.
“If we want the government of national unity, the faces in PDP must reflect national unity.
“If we want to restructure Nigeria, we must have the willingness to do what is right to bring inclusivity into PDP.
“The message from the South-West PDP is that the National Working Committee of the PDP should be restructured.
“We are asking the National Chairman to step down so that the South will be fully included. That is the message.”
In his remarks, Abubakar Atiku, the Presidential candidate of PDP, said he was in Ibadan to interact with all the party stakeholders on the preparations for the 2023 elections.
Atiku urged the South-West leaders of the party to remain focused and work toward the party’s victory in the coming elections.
On the issue of the national chairmanship, Atiku said: “Over time, PDP has developed its Constitution as regards party’s electoral processes, zoning of offices, power sharing, among others, which will bring about unity of the party and the country.
“Therefore, the request of Gov. Makinde is achievable under our party’s Constitution, rules, regulations and procedures.
“So, the party’s Constitution must guide us on whatever changes we make.”
Earlier, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the Vice Presidential candidate of PDP, urged members of the party in the South-West to be more united and work toward the success of the party in the 2023 general elections.
Okowa, also the Governor of Delta, said that PDP was well prepared to take over power from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, the country is facing various challenges under the APC-led government.
He described the PDP presidential candidate as “an experienced and quality leader who is capable of leading the country well”.
Okowa also urged the people to go into the election with one love and determination to win the poll.
Among the dignitaries on Atiku’s entourage were former Governors of Niger, Babangida Aliyu; Osun, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti.
