Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says the emergence of Atiku Abubakar and Iyorchia Ayu as presidential candidate and national chairman respectively shows a lack of will by both men to restructure the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Nigeria.

Debunking the news that he had accepted to be chairman of the PDP governors’ forum, Mr Makinde, at a road commissioning outing in Abia State, faulted the process of both men’s emergence as incapable of delivering an equitable and structurally inclusive party. 

“‪We are not fighting to have the chairmanship of the PDP’s governors’ forum. We are saying that if PDP has promised to restructure Nigeria, and we cannot restructure PDP then we are not restructuring Nigeria. That is the fact‬,” Mr Makinde said.

He emphasised that inclusivity has long been a major challenge for Nigeria’s political stakeholders, dating back to pre-independence conferences, and tasked the party to adopt alternative means, away from the present system, that ensures everyone’s involvement.

“There have been issues that are foundational. If you read the proceedings of the constitutional conferences that led to Nigeria’s independence, you know that there were issues then. And if since 1960, we have not been able to get things right, yes of course they may cite the military interruptions ‪because of their unitary command structure.

“But we’ve been practising democracy since 1999 and if we are not able to create a path that can lead to sustainable development, we should try something else,” Mr Makinde added. 

The governor, who is also seeking reelection under the PDP, has pitched his tent with outgoing Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, as the party’s internal crisis thickens; with political analysts fearing that his decision might cost him his second term ambition.