Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, justified why the people of the state voted for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress party, APC, in the presidential and parliamentary elections. February 25th.
The governor said he was happy to be part of the process of “redrawing the electoral map of Nigeria”.
Makinde made the remarks Saturday during a Splash FM state affairs interview with Desmond Obilo.
He was answering a question about who he voted for in the presidential election that just ended.
Makinde is part of the G5, a group of governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who have refused to support and campaign for Atiku Abubakar, their party’s flag bearer, following calls for Iyorchia Ayu to step down as president. national citizenship of the PDP.
Recall that Tinubu, the president-elect, collected 449,884 votes in the presidential election in Oyo State to defeat Atiku, who collected 182,977 votes.
“I supported fairness, justice and equity. I supported a united Nigeria, a Nigeria that gives opportunity to every part of this country,” Makinde said.
When asked if the candidate he is referring to is Tinubu, Makinde replied, “well, if you say so”.
“He (Tinubu) defeated me out there (Makinde’s ward). How do you deliver your ward? You know, you allow people to express themselves. A lot of our people, that is what they decided to do. They decided that look, we want after 8 years of presidency in the north, they want it to come to the south and this place being southwest, one of theirs was a candidate so they supported one of their own.
“When you go into a contest, you have to situate things appropriately. We had a survey before that election; we knew that a lot of our people are agitating for a country where there is fairness, equity and justice. I pointed it out to our party.
“I am glad that I am a part of a process that redrew the electoral map of Nigeria. That arrogance, I believe with the result of last Saturday’s election is basically behind us. Now we know that people will have to seek for alignment. If you want to rule this country, you are not just going to say oh, because I am from a certain part of this country, then that is the only qualification I require to rule this country. Now, you have to build bridges, reach out to others.”
Three of the G5 governors – Benue’s Samuel Ortom, Abia’s Okezie Ikpeazu, and Enugu’s Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – lost the senatorial election in Saturday’s vote.
When asked if he would “pay the price” for running for re-election, Makinde said he would choose to do what suits his political interests.
“Well, that is left to the people of Oyo state. If I have to choose between my political survival and doing what is right and just within the political space in Nigeria, I will choose to forgo my political career,” he said.
Makinde, however, expressed confidence that he will win the governorship poll while appealing to the people of the state to vote for the PDP in all positions.
