SOJI AJIBOLA, IBADAN
…crisis worsens as Makinde, Fayose, Gbenga Daniel jostle to lead party
Peoples Democratic Party in the Southwest is embroiled in leadership crisis, which may spell doom for its chances of winning additional states in the region in 2023.
The leadership tussle had resulted in an open confrontation between the camp of the Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and that of former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.
Governor Makinde is being accused of being disrespectful and too young to lead the party at this stage.
A prominent member of the party in Oyo State, who spoke under condition of anonymity, blamed Gov. Makinde for causing disaffection among members of the party in the region.
According to him, “The leadership style of Makinde is appalling. The same party that brought him to power in 2019 is now in disarray. The person that cannot rule the party successfully at the state level wants to lead the whole region. It is never done.
“Our governor is having attitudinal problem. Some of our leaders are now romancing the All Progressives Congress. If urgent steps are not taken, the party may forfeit its chances in 2023.”
Recall that the leadership of the party in the South-west region led by the former governor of Osun State, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, recently met with the former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on the crisis rocking the party in the region.
The meeting had in attendance Governor Makinde and other notable members of the party in the region.
An Inside source hinted FirstNews that the resolution of the meeting was to make Otunba Daniel the leader of the party in the South-west.Â
Otunba Daniel was said to have accepted the offer with a promise to reunite all the warring factions.
However, this decision seemed not to have gone down well with Fayose’s camp, as they are insisting on the choice of their leader.
According to them, Fayose had paid his dues and deserved to lead the party and had all that it takes to wrest power from the opposition in 2023.