The passing of a vote-of-no-confidence on Governor Seyi Makinde and the present administration, on grounds of lack of personal gratification and political benefits by some members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Oyo State chapter is against the overall development and growth of Oyo State. It has therefore been met with a strong opposition from the larger member of the party.

A signed press statement by the ruling party’s State Publicity Secretary, Engr Akeem Olatunji, on Monday, Sept 20, 2021, was made available to newsmen, indicating that Oyo State Chapter of the PDP is grossly disappointed in the anti-party conduct of the so called disgruntled members who claimed to be aggrieved, wondering if they played politics as a private business for personal gains or for public good and the development of Oyo State.

Oyo State PDP has learnt that some members of the party converged at a private venue in Ibadan, on Monday and accused Governor Makinde of reneging on his promises prior to the 2019 governorship election, leading to what could be termed as passage of vote-of-no-confidence against Governor Makinde.

The party’s press statement maintained that while the ruling party acknowledged personal aspirations, political interests and other reasons for political participation by individuals, it strongly frowned at any form of anti-party activities by anyone or group of persons within the party.

The Oyo State PDP added that politics should be played based on individual’s popularity and general acceptability, especially at the ward, local government and party level.

The party maintained that the days of playing on the sentimental views of the people of Oyo State as a result of poverty and illiteracy are long gone. Residents in Oyo State, even without access to internet or telecommunication, are now politically conscious to know the difference between sincere politician who truly loves and want to work for the good of the masses and those manipulating them for their own selfish reasons.

All over the world political landscape is laced with mixed feelings from time to time due to past experiences of unfulfilled promises and expectations from previously elected political office holders. However, to embark on a campaign of sheer political blackmail in order to canvass the sympathy of unsuspecting members of the political community, dragging them into a selfish personal scheme to bring down His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde cannot be tolerated.

According to the statement released it was stated that “Some of the members who claimed to be aggrieved are merely acting out their frustrations after their candidates in government were either redeployed due to incompetence or shown the exit door due to gross misconduct bothering on challenge of integrity. The fact remains that they will never tell you details of their supposed grievances against Governor Seyi Makinde other than the very parochial narrative of ‘unfulfilled promises’, and these spurious claims are merely aimed at currying undue and undeserved public sympathy.

It went further to say “Let it be clearly known to the entire PDP family in Oyo State, Nigeria, and the entire world that the so called aggrieved members of our great party who ‘jokingly’ passed a vote-of-no-confidence on Governor Makinde did so without a single basis of government failure to fulfill its electoral promises, and have, therefore, deliberately embarked on a mission of political blackmail in their pursuit of absolute personal gratifications and benefits, regardless of the redemption Governor Makinde has brought to assuage and attend to the suffering of the eight years of the past administration, which witnessed draconian, wicked, and emperor-like rule by the Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC).

“As the party’s congress approaches, their voices against Governor Makinde and his performing government have been raised to the rooftops not because GSM has stopped performing or breaking new grounds of success in governance, but simply because they felt their personal political expectations and gratifications were denied them in the larger interest of the good people of Oyo State.

“We want to, once again, urge all our leaders, brothers and sisters who feel aggrieved for whatever reasons to sheath their swords and not further project themselves to the public in like manner as those in government between 2011–2019 who, out of sheer greed, covetousness and selfishness plunged Oyo State into the pit of backwardness, a backwardness that is now being redressed and redeemed by the Seyi Makinde administration that has been working tirelessly to return Oyo State to the path of growth and development” the PDP statement concluded.

While we cannot berate politicians for participating in politics and political activities to have personal aspirations and political expectations for their commitment and services to the party, it is very important to stress that such personal or political aspirations and expectations must not at any point override the interest of the party and ultimately the interest of the State and its residents.