Video: When people go into the gutters I don’t go with them – Oyo Gov. Makinde blows hot
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Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has distanced himself from political mudslinging, declaring that he will not “go into the gutters” with those seeking to drag him down.
Makinde made the remark on Thursday while speaking with journalists after the South-West zoning consultative summit of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos.
He emphasized that political disagreements should never become personal, stressing that democracy requires maturity and respect.
“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,” the governor said.
According to him, the recent elections demonstrated that the PDP remains a strong political force across the country.
“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,” Makinde added.
On the issue of zoning the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket, Makinde noted that such discussions were premature. He maintained that the party’s immediate priority was building internal unity and strength.
“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,” he said.
The Lagos summit had in attendance top PDP leaders, including the party’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Adolphus Wabara; Bayelsa State Governor and Chairman of the National Zoning Committee, Douye Diri; Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke; and the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ossai, who represented Governor Peter Mba.
Other dignitaries included former Osun Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, elder statesman Bode George, Monsurat Sunmonu, 12 out of 17 PDP National Assembly members, and several southern stakeholders.
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