BY REBECCA AJANI
…says malicious publication aimed at creating disaffection in Oyo PDP
PUBLICITY Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, Akeem Olatunji, has denied challenging Governor Seyi Makinde over the farmers/herders crisis in Ibarapaland.
The party’s spokesman, in a statement in Ibadan on Monday said that the publication by an online newspaper insinuating such was not only false but also malicious.
He described the said report as an evil machination by some disgruntled elements within the party who he said aimed to use the group chat to advance their ulterior motives.
There had been reports of a crisis within the Oyo PDP with the exit of Governor Makinde from the party’s official WhatsApp group on Saturday.
The reports which disclosed this said Olatunji had earlier posted a video of an attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen on the people of Ayete, headquarters of Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the state on the WhatsApp group.
Olatunji was also said to have challenged the Governor on the veracity of the video, which reportedly angered the governor and led him to exit the platform.
The spokesman however noted that there was no truth in the report, adding that some disgruntled members of the party were behind the publication.
He said those behind the publication had been looking for an opportunity to tear the party apart and retard its growing fortunes, while also seeking to pitch him against the governor.
He described the governor as not just a leader of the party in Oyo State and the South West, but also his political mentor.
The publicity secretary said, “Ordinarily, one would just have allowed this sort of malicious campaign of calumny to pass but sometimes silence may be misconstrued to mean acceptance; that’s why it becomes imperative to clear whatever evil machinations the malicious and apparently sponsored publication sought to achieve.
“First, the very respected leader and Governor of Oyo state, Engr Seyi Makinde and myself are on the same page on every policy and programme of the present administration and my relationship with the architect of modern Oyo State will continue to remain cordial.
“The Governor, like every other member of the official PDP WhatsApp group in Oyo state has every right to exit the platform for whatever personal reason but such should not be translated to advance any ulterior motives especially in the media, for whatever reason.
“That can only amount to a campaign of calumny and its unfortunate. It is obvious that their plan is to create disaffection among us to further advance their cause.
“I have a very smooth and cordial relationship with Governor Makinde and his sterling performance across all sectors of the state economy has been one of my greatest source of strength and motivation.
“As a loyal party man, I will continue to propagate his achievements to the entire world. Posting a video with such negative content that is capable of projecting the PDP government in bad light was absolutely the handiwork of our detractors who perhaps have collaborators within us in the ruling party, and it is my duty as well as every other loyal party member to urgently report such to our party’s official platform with a view of getting immediate attention of concerned authorities to stop the spread of such malicious video.
“Governor Seyi Makinde, whose refined approach to politics has given opportunities to all has apparently angered some of our party members who felt they have been sidelined and looking for ways to manipulate whatever harmless disagreements emanated on our official WhatsApp platform.
“Only a foolish person and a disloyal party man will want to stand in the way of a performing governor like Engr Seyi Makinde or dissociate himself from a government that is daily making life comfortable for its residents.
“It was absolutely untrue, false, malicious for anybody to take activities in an enclosed WhatsApp group to Sahara reporters which is not on the platform or has a representative on the group.
“To set the record straight, I did not and will never attack my Governor because he is a man I am very proud of and always want to emulate in my approach to refined politics and delivery of good governance.
“The video has since been confirmed by concerned authorities to be fake as expected. The Oyo state chapter of PDP will continue to support Governor Makinde and the government under his able leadership.
“I have spoken with the Governor and all concerned persons in government and we have a clear understanding of the situation at hand.”
