Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has justified the reasons why residents of the state voted for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25th Presidential and National Assembly elections. Makinde, who is a member of the G5, a group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors who refused to support and campaign for Atiku Abubakar, their party’s flagbearer, disclosed that he is happy to be part of the process that “redrew the electoral map of Nigeria.”
Speaking in an interview on Splash FM’s State Affairs with Desmond Obilo on Saturday, Makinde said that he supported fairness, justice, equity, and a united Nigeria that gives opportunity to every part of the country. When asked if the candidate he was referring to is Tinubu, Makinde replied, “well, if you say so.” Tinubu, the President-elect, polled 449, 884 votes in the Presidential election in Oyo state to defeat Atiku, who polled 182, 977 votes.
Makinde explained that when he went into the contest, he had to situate things appropriately. He had a survey before the election, and they knew that a lot of people were agitating for a country where there is fairness, equity, and justice. Makinde pointed it out to his party and expressed his pleasure in being part of a process that redrew the electoral map of Nigeria.
He emphasized that arrogance was behind them, and people would have to seek for alignment. He believes that to rule Nigeria, you have to build bridges and reach out to others. The governor expressed confidence that he would win the governorship poll while appealing to the people of the state to vote the PDP in all positions. When asked if he would pay the price with his re-election bid, Makinde said he would choose to do what is right over his political interests. He added that if he had to choose between his political survival and doing what is right and just within the political space in Nigeria, he would forgo his political career.
Three of the G5 governors – Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu – lost their senatorial bids during Saturday’s poll. The people of Oyo state will be the ultimate decider on whether Makinde’s re-election bid will come to fruition.
