Makinde vs Fayose: Is south-west PDP crisis really over or just getting started?

Has the internal crisis threatening to tear apart the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) umbrella in the south-west been put to bed — or is it on the cusp of boiling over?

If you are thinking along this line, you are not alone.

Barely 24 hours after he finally recognised Seyi Makinde as the leader of the south-west PDP, Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti, has said the Oyo governor is “deadly” and encouraging thuggery in the party.

When he appeared on Channels TV on Wednesday, Fayose said the zonal congress that produced Taofeek Arapaja as the south-west zonal PDP chairman was marred with irregularities.

The former governor lost in the congress after Arapaja, who is backed by Makinde, defeated Eddy Olafeso, his preferred candidate.

Although he had grudgingly accepted the outcome of the congress, he went on live TV to detail how thugs and “dead” people marred the congress.

“In Oyo, they told us 177 were listed. Hon Mulikat protested and said, ‘this man is dead, this man is dead, this man is dead, this man is sick, this one is abroad, this one is aged’. They came back and told us 165. This is the game going on in the entire process,” Fayose said.

“In the 21st century, thuggery is shameful for our party. You remember I was in Ondo, these same people came to attack me and I told Governor Makinde, so I am glad the whole world is seeing this. Governor Makinde looks quiet but deadly.”

FAYOSE SAID HE’S ONE WITH MAKINDE — SO WHAT CHANGED?

During the congress in Osun state, Fayose did not just recognise Makinde as the leader of the party in the south-west; he also apologised for the internal crisis that had stalled the congress for months.

“Governor Seyi Makinde is our leader. Therefore, our supporters and lovers should not be putting a wedge between us. I and Seyi Makinde are one from the beginning,” the former governor had said.

“Distinguish leaders, I want to assure you that we will make exploits together and anywhere it (the election outcome) goes, I will accept. No one offends me and if I have offended anybody, I apologise. Politicking leads to this misunderstanding, but notwithstanding, you are our father.”

ELECTIONS ARE COMING; WHEN WILL PDP GET ITS ACT TOGETHER?

The current supremacy battle between Fayose and Makinde began towards the end of 2020 after the former governor accused the latter of interfering in the leadership of the party in Ekiti and other south-west states.

Of late, Makinde has been assuming the role of the leader of the party in the south-west, perhaps because he is the only PDP governor in the zone. Some national leaders of the party are also reported to be backing him.

But Fayose wouldn’t have any of that. 

In December 2020, he described Makinde as a “baby governor” when he addressed prominent members of the party.

“Tell the baby governor that the way up is the way down. Let Makinde put a feeding bottle in the mouth of his dogs. You are called a leader because you earned it, not your title,” he had said.

The feud has pitched leaders of the party in the south-west against one another. 

While the party chairmen in Lagos, Osun and Ondo were reported to be backing Makinde, some of their counterparts in Ogun and Ekiti had argued that Fayose is also in a position to lead the party.

With the 2023 general election fast approaching, pundits have argued that unless the PDP acts fast, the crisis could result in the loss of Oyo state, its remaining stronghold in the south-west.