2027: We must build a strong party, before presidential ambition – Makinde

.…says “Those opposed to convention, want to commit suicide”

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Monday, revealed that building a strong political party comes before his presidential ambition.

This is as the Governor has vowed to ensure that Oyo State gives the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), one of the best organised national conventions ever.

Makinde who is the Chairman of the Transportation sub Committee of the November elective convention, warned those who may be working against the Convention to desist from such as they will be standing against “a moving train.”

Makinde, while speaking on plans for the convention coming up between 15 and 16 of November, noted that the action so far represent demonstration of the fact that the National Convention train has moved.

“Whoever is trying to stop a moving train is probably also trying to commit suicide.”

“So, my advice is, please, no matter how highly placed, no matter what has transpired in the past, we don’t want to see anyone dead. So, please don’t commit suicide.”

The Governor who served as secretary of the last PDP convention, said he accepted to serve in lower capacity, in the “spirit of doing everything and anything to put our party on the path that Nigerians would love to see

“We decided that no amount of assignment is too small or too big. So, if they like, let them say I should be the one to clean the floor in Ibadan.For the sake of this party, for the sake of democracy in Nigeria, I will gladly do it.

“We’ll start our job right from when the delegates want to step out of their various states, and we’ll manage the process all the way to Ibadan, and back to their various states after a successful national convention.”

He assured that the committee will not be distracted from the job of ensuring smooth movement of all delegates to the convention

Also speaking on his 2027 ambition, Makinde said ” Well, I already said to people several times, I’m old enough to set an agenda for myself.

“For us, we must have a party before anyone can have an ambition.

“So all the efforts right now, except you’re saying that, no, forget about having a party. Just focus on ambition. So nobody’s going to set an agenda for me.

“First thing first, our first step is to put our best effort, the best foot forward to ensure that your state is able to host the best national convention ever in the history of PDP. And that is exactly what we’re focused on.”

Speaking also on defections from the party, Makinde noted that it is the right of those defecting to make their decision

“Being a member of a political party is something that is voluntary. It means you are ready to submit yourself to the constitution of the party that you are joining. And people may sometimes think that managing people, managing political parties, managing governance processes are very simple. They’re not.

“They’re actually very complex and complicated. Yes, no party should condone indiscipline.

“But having said that, you have to go through a process. You have your constitution. Our constitution has been framed such that even when people have issues with the party, when you have issues bordering on discipline, there’s still a process.

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“We don’t want to wake up and say, oh, okay, somebody has been expelled or suspended. Democracy is a process of governance that has a process. It’s not like in the military.”

He noted that the party is still in the process of having a system that is robust enough.

“But we shall get to a point where people will get what they deserve in terms of what they’ve done to the party.”

On his assessment of the ruling APC, he said ” people of Nigeria, they are not blind. They know.

“The people of Nigeria, they know. So what we can give you the assurance that we’re not going to spend our energy and time talking about what they should have done or they shouldn’t have done this, because Nigerians are aware. They are more aware than we leaders are even giving them credit for.

“But the PDP you will see post-convention, with new leaders, new heroes coming up, will be a PDP that will come out boldly to tell Nigerians what they will do for them. And it will be in black and white, such that we can be held accountable.”