Plans by pro-Atiku group members to stage a solidarity walk in Ibadan today has widened the cracks within the local chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State.
The walk, billed to begin at Total Garden, Mokola, and terminate at Mapo, Ibadan, is to drum up support for the PDP standard bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke is expected to open the campaign as the Coordinator of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation (PCO) in the Southwest.
But Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde will be joined tomorrow by four of his colleagues for the kick-off of the PDP campaign for his re-election as governorship candidate and others for the national and state assemblies.
Expected to join Makinde are G-5 governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Samuel Ortom (Benue); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okeziel Ikpeazu.
Also expected are those demanding the replacement of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the PDP National Chairman for equity.
The G-5 members and others in the Integrity Group opted out of the PDP PCO to register their opposition to the North holding on to the chairmanship position and the presenting the presidential ticket.
Makinde is billed to speak on his preferred presidential candidate at the rally.
The arrowheads of today’s rally, including Elder Wole Oyelese, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide and a former deputy governor Hazeem Gbolarumi, said the G-5 crisis was between the five governors and Senator Ayu and not with Atiku.
Addressing reporters on behalf of the group, Oyelese, adjudged Atiku was most qualified among the leading presidential candidates judging by his experience and pedigree as a detribalised Nigerian.
The one-time Special Duties minister said members of the were determined to ensure Atiku’s victory in the February 25 election.
The rally, christened ‘Freedom Walk,’ will start at Total Garden area of the capital city and terminate at the historic Mapo Hall where party leaders will address PDP supporters and other on why they should mobilize and vote for Atiku in the election.
He said: “PDP is the strongest and most popular party in Oyo State and Nigeria. We are confident PDP will sweep all the positions in the coming election. Atiku won in Oyo State in 2019 and we believe he will win by landslide this time.
“People have seen the difference between PDP and APC governments. During PDP government, the economy was far better than what it is today.”
Fielding questions from reporters, Gbolarumi said Atiku would win the election with or without the G-5 governors.
According to him, Makinde would not announce support for any other presidential candidate at tomorrow’s kick-off his campaign.
