The leading opposition party in Oyo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday engaged in war of words over the meeting between former Vice- President , Atiku Abubakar and Governor Seyi Makinde at the residence of former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida at Minna, Niger State.
While the Oyo APC alleged that the meeting formed part of a “political contract” that could expose the state’s finances ahead of the next general election, the PDP insisted there was no such deal.
The APC, in a statement released by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, in Ibadan, the state capital, alleged that a political contract between Makinde and Atiku would make the latter fleece the financial resources of the state in the buildup to the 2027 election cycle, saying the plans would be resisted at all costs.
The APC regretted that both Atiku and Makinde could allow selfishness and desperation to becloud the pricking of their individual conscience and dance on the grave of the PDP, which they literally strangulated to death in 2022 and 2023.
The statement said, “Atiku Abubakar, on his part, is desperate to be on the ballot again in 2027 to enable him set the record of a man who contested presidential elections for the highest record of time in the whole world and possibly keep himself busy at an advanced age.
“Besides, the former vice president has a penchant for making some southern governors sponsor his ill-conceived presidential ambition with their state funds, just like he did in 2023.
Another reality is that Atiku has found a good ground to punish Makinde for his sins of 2019 and 2023, but unfortunately, the naivety in the Oyo governor would not allow him to read between the lines.
“The details of the betrayal game which Makinde played with his new godfather in the last two general elections are known to most pundits, and the fact that the victim (Atiku) would never let go is crystal clear.
“So, the latest political romance involving the duo would end up a disaster with Makinde being at the risk of being the worst loser or victim.”
The party said with the available records of billions of naira, which Makinde has taken from the treasury of the government and wasted on financing the hitherto comatose PDP, the Pacesetter State could not afford to open its vault to somebody like Atiku again.
“We say no to the payment of a N10bn down payment by Makinde to make him Atiku’s running mate on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, even as it is evident that he wants to remain in power after the expiration of his two-term tenure as a governor.
“He shall be vehemently resisted this time,” the APC publicity secretary insisted.
The state PDP Publicity Secretary, Michael Ogunsina, however, described the APC allegation as reckless and unfounded.
He explained that the PDP remained focused on governance and the continued development of its dear state.
Ogunsina said no amount of propaganda, panic, or politically motivated fiction could distract the party from delivering for the people.
“Oyo PDP strongly condemns the reckless and unfounded allegations by the state chapter of APC regarding a phantom plot to ‘hand over the state’s vault ahead of the 2027 elections’.
“It is hardly surprising that the Oyo APC continues to parade misinformation, especially when one of their loudest ‘information merchants’ is a former two-term Ekiti State governor who has reduced himself to a self-appointed political gossip distributor.
“When such a figure becomes the backbone of your intelligence gathering, confusion and cluelessness are inevitable.
“A party that relies on recycled bitterness and social media speculation as strategy cannot suddenly claim moral authority over the state’s finances.”
The party added, “Let it be stated clearly: Oyo is not anyone’s personal vault. Under Governor Makinde, the state’s resources are managed with transparency and accountability.
“Workers and pensioners are paid regularly, roads, schools, and health facilities are being upgraded across the state, including the recruitment of unemployed youths. These are tangible results that the people can see and verify.
“It is ironic that the same APC, under whose Federal Government Nigerians are battling crushing economic hardship, rising inflation and poverty, unstable electricity, and declining purchasing power, now pretends to be alarmed about Oyo’s finances.
“Charity, they say, begins at home. They should first fix the hardship their party has imposed on Nigerians before manufacturing imaginary scandals in Oyo.”
The party said it remained focused on governance and the continued development of the state, adding that no amount of propaganda, panic, or politically motivated fiction could distract it from delivering for the people.
“Oyo belongs to the people, not a rejected APC clinging to propaganda and recycled lies,” the PDP publicity secretary said.
