Southwest PDP Crisis: Saraki to Lead Reconciliation Committee To Resolve Feud Between Makinde, Fayose

After months of altercation between the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and the Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has mandated its Peace, Reconciliation and Strategy Committee to resolve the feud between the two zonal party chieftains.

The Committee which is to be headed by a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, will have former Gombe State Governor, Hassan Dankwambo; former House of Representatives Minority Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande; former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke; a former Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, as members.

According to the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the six-member committee has got its marching orders to resolve the leadership crisis in the zone, noting that this is part of efforts aimed at repositioning the PDP in the South-west.

Makinde and Fayose are locked in a supremacy battle that has polarised the opposition party in the zone as state chairmen of PDP and others pitched tent with either camp.

The supremacy battle, that has lingered for some months, has degenerated as aides of the two party chiefs engaged in a war of words on the social media.

Meanwhile, Fayose, on Monday in Lagos, had said that Makinde was not the PDP leader in the South-west, noting that leadership should be earned and not for anyone to appropriate because of positional influence.

The former governor spoke when he received a delegation of prominent members of the party, led by the Senator representing Ondo South District in the National Assembly, Senator Nicholas Tofowomo , who paid him a solidarity visit.

It was learnt that the two party chiefs are at loggerheads over whether or not a former Ondo State Information Commissioner, Dr Eddy Olafeso, should be the next PDP National Vice Chairman (West), saying this was the agreement made in Makinde’s house at Ibadan.

Fayose is quoted to have said, “Governor Makinde is not my leader. He is my follower. Respect should beget respect. I have been a warrior. They thought I will be with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission now. But, I am surviving”.