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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will triumph, despite the defections of some of its members to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Makinde stated this, yesterday, while speaking at the inauguration of the PDP National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) Transportation Sub-Committee, said the opposition party is still entrenched across the country.
The Oyo governor said it would be suicidal for anyone to attempt to stand in the way of the PDP National Convention, scheduled for November 15 and 16, in Ibadan.
Recently, several leaders of the opposition party, including Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevbori, Akwa Ibom State governor, Umo Eno, former Delta governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as well as several members of the National Assembly, elected on the platform of the PDP defected to the APC.
Other PDP top shots who have defected include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Senate President, David Mark, who have dumped the opposition party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Last Friday, the APC confirmed that the Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, would formally join the ruling party on October 14, just as there are speculations that the Bayelsa State governor, Diri Douye, is also on his way out of the PDP.
Also, in the run-up of the national convention, aggrieved members of the PDP have attempted to set up parallel structures in Cross River and Edo state chapters of the opposition party. Some aggrieved members have also filed a suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to halt the November 15 and 16 national Convention.
Nonetheless, Makinde, who is also the chairman of the Transportation sub-committee, admonished party stalwarts not to be discouraged by the current developments in the party, especially the defection of members. He stated that while it appears as if things are very difficult for the party at the moment, it would eventually get better.
He said, “Let me digress a little bit and use this opportunity to tell our PDP members all over the country that this situation may appear like it is difficult; the news out there is that people are defecting, governments are defecting. I have good news.
“It may appear that it is getting worse, but usually, when you want something that will endure, it will usually get worse before it gets better. From when the 34 wise men came together to put democracy on the map for this country at the beginning of this republic in 1999, PDP has always been a constant factor — either as a ruling party or the main opposition party since 2015.
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“We are not going anywhere. So, I want to encourage you, when you hear the news that certain people have defected, please, just hold your own corner for PDP. Hold your own corner for PDP. And this is the moment where new authentic heroes are going to be made — not only for PDP, but for our country.
Makinde, who expressed optimism that the PDP will bounce back strongly after its national convention, recalled in 2019, when he was contesting for Oyo State governorship position, the opposition party was dismissed as “dead”, but it ended up clinching the gubernatorial seat and majority of seats in the state assembly.
“So, this is not the time to despair at all. It’s not the time to engage in self-doubt. This is the time to come out boldly and be counted — that for PDP, me, I am holding my own corner. It will all add up. And watch my lead. Trust me. Trust the leadership that we will enthrone and the leadership that will midwife the enthronement of the leaders that will eventually help this country.”
The Oyo governor, addressing journalists, after the inauguration, said the train for the PDP National convention “has moved, and whoever is trying to stop a moving train is probably also trying to commit suicide.”
He added “so, my advice is, please, no matter how highly placed, no matter what has transpired in the past, we don’t want to see anyone dead. So, please, don’t commit suicide.”
Nonetheless, Makinde explained that he was not referring to any individual or faction in the opposition party.
He said, “I’m I talking to any faction within the PDP? My answer is no. We have a party that has gone through a full cycle. We were in power when democracy returned to Nigeria in 1999. We have gone through those challenges of governing this country. We have people with experience that have led or occupied positions of leadership in this country. And we’ve gone to the bottom of it, when we lost power in 2015, and we’ve been in opposition since then.
“So, challenges will come and go, but, for us as leaders, no matter what situation we find ourselves in organising the party, it’s not the end in itself. The end is for Nigerians to have democracy, and for Nigerians to have a party that they can relate to. So, if you’re saying somebody is defecting, our house is not in order, democracy is about conflict and conflict resolution, and, also, resilience.
“In fact, we must be happy that we have a party that has refused to be distracted, that has stayed focused on what the Nigerian people would like to see. Do we want a one-party state in Nigeria? From the last time I checked, the answer is no. Nigerian people, they want a multi-party democracy, they want people to come up with ideas, and that is exactly what we’re doing in PDP. So, we are not distracted.”
Makinde added: “Now, your second question about governors defecting, senators defecting. We are not concerned, and we are not bothered, because the ultimate decider here will be the Nigerian people.
“And the only time I will be concerned, the only time that we will be concerned as a party is when we see hunger defects from the ordinary people on the streets and join APC, then that is the time we will be concerned.”
