Makinde’s Successor Plan Caused Rift — Gbolarumi
•By OYENIYI AWOJOODU
IBADAN — A former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi, has attributed his disagreement with Governor Seyi Makinde to the governor’s alleged plan to single-handedly choose his successor.
Gbolarumi made this known while hosting members of the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, led by Mr Yinka Adeniran, at an Iftar held at his Bodija residence in Ibadan.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, who is aligned with the faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, said his relationship with Makinde was previously cordial.
He noted that many residents of the state had expressed surprise over the reported fallout, wondering when the relationship between both politicians began to deteriorate.
According to Gbolarumi, the disagreement began when the governor allegedly indicated his intention to announce a successor without consulting key PDP leaders in the state, despite his (Gbolarumi’s) declared interest in contesting.
“He is supposed to sit down with PDP leaders in the state for discussion,” he said.
Gbolarumi also criticised the governor’s style of governance, alleging that party leaders were excluded from key appointments, including commissioners, special advisers, and local government chairmen.
“Look at his sets of commissioners, SAs and local government chairmen there was no input from PDP leaders in those appointments,” he added.
The former deputy governor stressed that he was among the founding members of the PDP in Oyo State, the platform on which Makinde was elected in 2019, noting that party leaders had accepted Makinde’s emergence in good faith.
He, however, expressed concern that the governor’s move to impose a successor could sideline other stakeholders.
“Does he want to politically extinguish us?” Gbolarumi queried.
He further took issue with Makinde’s repeated claim of having no political godfather.
“I told him I do not believe in that principle. There are individuals God used for his emergence as governor,” he said.
Gbolarumi maintained that speaking truth to the governor remained a moral obligation for him as a party leader.
He clarified that the situation should not be seen as a personal conflict but rather a clash of political interests, expressing optimism that the PDP in the state would soon reconcile.
“For now, our faction is in control of the PDP structure in the state,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr Yinka Adeniran, commended Gbolarumi for his continued support for the union and assured him of fair and accurate reportage.