Only the deeply unstable deliberately twist facts and turn the truth on its head.
Any discerning observer who watched Ayo Fayose’s latest tirade against Governor Seyi Makinde would be compelled to question the mental and political state of the vagabond son of Ekiti.
For a man who, as far back as 2023 – long before the present crisis in the PDP – openly declared his allegiance to the APC’s national leader at the time, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to now accuse another person of causing the balkanisation of the PDP reveals the depth of delusion that stomach infrastructure, political patronage and the spoils of opportunism have created.
Beyond his well-known reputation for political betrayal, Fayose’s habitual disregard for facts should concern those around him.
Let us return to Ekiti State and revisit the turbulence created by this once-promising but profoundly unpatriotic son of the state. From the outset, Fayose embarked on a series of manoeuvres designed to hand Ekiti State to the APC. With the assistance of willing collaborators, he conducted local government congresses and party activities without the knowledge or approval of the PDP at the state, zonal or national levels.
That was his first calculated move to undermine the party in favour of the APC. The PDP subsequently stood firm and conducted its own legitimate congresses and party processes.
Fayose then proceeded to the courts, where, with the support of his Abuja political bedfellows, he pursued legal actions that frustrated the party at every turn and obstructed every genuine effort to restore order within the PDP.
Not yet satisfied with the damage inflicted on his own party in Ekiti, Fayose moved his perfidy to the Government House, where he openly fraternised with the APC administration. He dined and socialised with political opponents and eventually joined them on campaign platforms, launching vicious attacks against the PDP in the process.
At this point, one is compelled to ask Ayo Fayose how he sleeps at night. Perhaps his swollen bank accounts and the properties allegedly accumulated through his alliance with his fellow traveller in political treachery, Nyesom Wike, have succeeded in silencing whatever remains of his conscience.
Let me warn Ayo Fayose that extending his dirty political dragnet into Oyo State would be the greatest mistake of his political life.
Oyo is not Ekiti.
Oyo is not a place where poverty can be weaponised through so-called stomach infrastructure. The people of Oyo are not intimidated by political thuggery, empty populism or theatrical bravado. They are politically conscious and deeply protective of their state.
Indeed, many in Oyo are angered by Fayose’s audacity and are prepared to reject his interference decisively. Oyo will prove to be his Waterloo. He should take note of that now.
His boastful braggadocio may have succeeded elsewhere, but it will fail spectacularly in Oyo State.
While Fayose increasingly finds himself isolated and diminished among his own people, Governor Seyi Makinde enjoys enormous goodwill and respect among the people of Oyo. He has delivered visible infrastructure, strengthened institutions, improved governance and demonstrated courage in the face of political intimidation from Abuja.
He is widely regarded as a unifier and a leader willing to stand against oppression and political overreach. The people of Oyo have chosen to stand firmly behind their governor.
Therefore, let this message be clearly conveyed to Ayo Fayose:
Seyi Makinde remains the leader of the PDP in the South-West today and will remain so beyond the 2027 elections.
As for Ayo Fayose and his debauched political associates, they remain suspended figures in the eyes of many within the party and risk becoming political orphans, consigned to the backwaters of Nigeria’s political history.
History has never been kind to men who betray their own people and political family for personal gain.
– Dare Adeleke writes from Ibadan.
Editor’s Note:
This commentary represents the personal views and opinions of the author, Dare Adeleke. It is published in the interest of promoting public discourse and should not be interpreted as the editorial position or endorsement of Liberal News.
