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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The five aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, under the G5 banner, have said they are committed to the party, adding that they will disclose their preferred presidential candidate at the appropriate time.
The governors, Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) have been at loggerheads with the party’s leadership over the failure of the PDP National Chairman, Sen Iyorchia Ayu, to resign from his position.
Speaking at the official second term campaign flag off of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, the G5 governors said they are working for all the PDP candidates in their respective states.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, said the leadership of the party has failed to use PDP’s internal mechanism to resolve the crisis that arose after the party’s presidential convention in May.
He, however, urged the people of Oyo State to vote Makinde back into office because he has done well.
He said: “We are here to tell Oyo people that they should vote for Makinde and we believe Oyo will deliver Makinde back to Government House because he has done well.
“We want to assure you that the G5 governors and committed members of the PDP will deliver all our candidates. We are working for all our candidates in our respective states. We are going to deliver the governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State Assembly candidates to PDP.
“However, the leadership of the party have failed to use the internal mechanism to resolve the crisis that arose after the convention. So, on the other remaining election, we will let you know what to do at the appropriate time.”
Also speaking, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, corroborated what his Beuneo counterpart said.
He said the G5 governors believed in fairness, equity and justice.
“PDP is the only party in Oyo State. The young man you voted for in 2019 is bold and courageous. With this man, you can go home and sleep with your two eyes closed. Makinde has done well since you gave him your mandate in 2019. For you to continue to enjoy all the good works he is doing, the only way is to vote for him.
“Vote Seyi, Senate, House of Representatives, State Assembly candidates of the PDP.
“The other one, we’ll send Seyi to you,” Wike said.
In their separate remarks, Governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, urged voters in Oyo State to deliver all PDP candidates in the 2023 general elections.
They said Makinde represents the party’s vision for a better Nigeria.
Speaking, Makinde said he has delivered on all his campaign promises in the first term, promising to do more if elected for a second term in office.
He said: During the campaign for Omituntun 1.0, we promised we’ll take LAUTECH, we did it. What about the 65km Moniya-Iseyin road? We delivered. We also delivered Baosrun- Barrack junction road, Akobo bridge, Oyo-Iseyin road, Ogbomoso-Iseyin road. We promised to open our hinterland to economic activities, we have done that.
“We said we will take our people from poverty to prosperity; we have been paying salaries and pensions on the 25th of every month. Omituntun 2.0 will be an upgrade.”
However, the governors’ decision didn’t go down well with some of party faithful.
A section of the crowd started shouting Atiku’s name immediately Wike said they will send Makinde to tell the people who to vote for in the presidential election.
Some of the dignitaries that attend the campaign flag off inlcude former governors of Ekiti and Ondo States, Ayo Fayose and Olusegun Mimiko; Wife of Govenor Seyi Makinde, Mrs Omini Makinde; Sen Hosea Agboola; Sen Monsurat Sumonu; former deputy governor of Oyo State, Engr Hameed Gbadamosi; former first lady of Oyo State, Alhaja Mutiat Ladoja; PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Amb. Taofeek Arapaja; all National and State Assembly candidates of the party; State Working Committee members, State Executive Council members among others.
