Adebayo Lawal, deputy governor of Oyo, says his principal, Seyi Makinde, endorses Afenifere leaders’ selected presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.
The Oyo deputy governor made this disclosure at a meeting on Sunday between Afenifere leaders and Bola Tinubu, the APC’s presidential candidate, in Akure, the state capital of Ondo.
Lawal’s comments imply that Makinde who is a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party might be engaging in anti-party activities if he endorses the candidate of one of the factional leaders of Afenifere Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
Fasoranti, a factional head of the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation Afenifere, had previously been documented by Newsbreak Nigeria as praying for the success of Tinubu’s presidential campaign during a gathering that took place in his home.
Makinde was represented at the meeting by Lawal, who stated that the Oyo governor has consistently backed Afenifere’s choices.
“Since he (Makinde) has become a governor, he hasn’t played with issues concerning Yorubaland,” Lawal said.
“There is no time Baba (Fasoranti) calls him that he doesn’t answer. Whatever they are doing, whether it’s under Afenifere or another group, governor Seyi Makinde has always been doing.
“Now, we are not of the same party, but we are connected by race. For this reason, the message he (Makinde) sent is that in Yorubaland, whatever you do, he is in support of it.”
The development comes as the internal rift in the main opposition party deepens.
However, Pa Ayo Adebanjo another factional leader of the Yoruba Socio-political group discarded the endorsement saying that the group is still in support of the presidential bid of Peter Obi.
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