By Adeyinka Adeniran
A former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi, has broken silence on his rift with Governor Seyi Makinde which led to political shift even in the same party.
Gbolarumi belongs to the PDP faction with allegiance to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Speaking, he alleges that Governor Makinde’s decision to hand pick a successor without a recourse to party leaders and elders was the reason for the fallout between the two of them.
Gbolarumi gave the explanation while hosting the Executives of the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, who honored his invitation for an Iftar fast breaking on Monday, in Ibadan.
He noted that, until the incident, his relationship with Gov. Makinde was quite cordial.
Corenews.ng reports that the faction recently inaugurated its State Executive Committee (SEC) after a congress which held at the Liberty Stadium, Oke Ado, Ibadan at the weekend.
A Professor at the University of Ibadan, Raham Akinoso emerged the new chairman of the faction.
The former deputy governor noted that the clarification became imperative as majority of the citizens of the state were surprised and have been wondering at what stage the fallout between them started.
Gbolarumi said the disagreement started when Makinde said he would announce his successor to office without consulting the PDP leaders in the state even though he (Gbolarumi) had signified interest to contest.
”He is supposed to sit down with PDP leaders in the state for a discussion on it
“Look at his sets of Commissioners, SAs and local government chairmen, no input of PDP leaders in those appointments,” he said.
Gbolarumi said that he was one of the founding fathers of PDP in the state; the platform which Makinde used to become the governor of the state in 2019.
He said that the party leaders were satisfied and accepted God’ s decision on Makinde’s emergence, noting however that the governor’s decision to produce a successor would block their way.
He said, “Does he want to perish us politically. One of the things I am not happy about and I have discussed with him is his saying that he has no God father in politics. I told him, I don’t believe in that principle.
”There are one or two even more people that God used for his emergence as governor of the state.”
The former deputy governor said it would be a sin before God for him not to say the truth to the governor as one of the PDP leaders in the state.
Gbolarumi said what was really happening between him and the Makinde wasn’t really a fight but a fight of political interest, adding PDP would be united soon.
”For now our faction is currently in control and in charge of PDP in the state,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of Correspondents’ Chapel of NUJ, Oyo State Council, Comrade Yinka Adeniran commended Gbolarumi for his constant support to the union and pledged accurate and fair reportage of issues in the state.
