The All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised Seyi Makinde to focus on delivering good governance to the people of Oyo state.
The ruling party was reacting to Makinde’s recent remarks.
Over the weekend, the Oyo governor had asked leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to unite against external forces impeding a strong, unified opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Makinde said the 2027 elections will be a contest between the ruling APC and Nigerians. He added that his future political trajectory will be self-determined.
“Let me say this again, and I will say it myself: nobody will set an agenda for me apart from myself — they have also been talking, the ruling party and other parties,” the Oyo governor said.
“Let me say this: if you are accusing the ruling party of interfering with other parties to prevent them from uniting and forming a strong opposition for 2027, my position is that there are certain things within our control.
“The next election will be APC versus Nigerians. It is not even about APC versus PDP. So, let us do our bit to unite our party and our base, and let the people of Nigeria speak.
“Whether Governor Adeleke and I will cooperate for the growth and benefit of our party in the south-west is beyond the ruling party; it is between me and Governor Adeleke, so let’s work together and unite our base.
“The people spoke in Oyo and Osun states, they will do it in Nigeria. Don’t fret. External people can only succeed when we allow it.”
‘FOCUS ON GOVERNANCE’
Reacting in a statement on Sunday, Felix Morka, APC national spokesperson, asked Makinde to focus on his primary duty.
Morka said Makinde and PDP leaders should take full responsibility for the party’s “implosion and decay”. “He should not point accusing fingers at APC for the rot in his party. Makinde has become the leading but rather shoddy drummer for his 2027 political ambition.
“While our democracy affords Makinde the liberty to pursue his political aspirations, however, engaging in reckless executive flippancy at the expense of the job he was elected to do as governor is a disservice to the good people of Oyo State.
“They should take full responsibility for their disgraceful failure to handle the party’s implosion and decay. Instead of prioritising the needs of Oyo people who elected him to tackle their local issues, he has chosen to divert his attention.
“Makinde must know that Nigeria’s scale and complexities demand more than his vain and self-indulgent ambition. He cannot even speak for the people of Oyo State regarding their future electoral choices or decisions, let alone speak for Nigerians,” Morka said.
The APC spokesperson said Makinde’s fixation on a 2027 presidential run would not benefit his people.
“If Makinde knew how to keep APC’s influence at bay, then why has he not employed that strategy to ‘protect’ his party nationally? Like the proverbial bad workman who blames his tools.
“Makinde’s unhinged 2027 ambition cannot be founded upon his unguarded and unjustified attacks against our great Party or the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that has launched the boldest and most ambitious reform effort in history to transform our country’s economy and build a solid foundation for progress,” he added.
The spokesperson implored Nigerians to continue to support the reforms of the Tinubu administration.
