Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, August 21, declared that he would not be dragged into political mudslinging as internal wrangling continues to rock the Peoples Democratic Party.
Speaking to journalists after the South-West zoning consultative summit of the PDP in Lagos, Makinde said his focus was on building a united party rather than trading insults.
“Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy,” he said.
The governor stressed that political battles must not be reduced to personal attacks.
“I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching,” Makinde noted.
He argued that the PDP had shown resilience in recent elections, pointing to results as proof that the party remained a force across states.
READ ALSO: PDP Bigger Than Any Coalition or Defection — Makinde
“In all our states, they showed last Saturday that PDP is not dead. In most other places of the 12 states, PDP came second. It is an indication to us that if we continue to work hard, we can reclaim the confidence of Nigerians,” he said.
On the clamour for zoning of the party’s presidential ticket to the South, Makinde said such talks were premature.
According to him, “We haven’t even gotten there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates.
“If we don’t have a party, anything you are trying to do will fall flat. Our efforts right now are directed towards having a vibrant and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of and believe in again.”
The Lagos meeting drew heavyweights including PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, who heads the party’s National Zoning Committee, Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke, Enugu Governor Peter Mba represented by his deputy Ifeanyi Ossai, former Osun Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Bode George, Monsurat Sunmonu, as well as 12 of the 17 PDP National Assembly members and other southern stakeholders.