Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has reaffirmed that Nigerians desire a multiparty democracy where people can exchange ideas and not a one-party system.
Saying this while taking questions from journalists after commissioning the Transportation Subcommittee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention which took place on November 15, the governor said the PDP was still in focus despite recent decamping by some governors and lawmakers.
In reaction to Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah’s gubernatorial defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Makinde affirmed that the PDP has not been having a smooth time since its defeat in 2015 but is still recovering with mature politicians who have served the nation in various capacities.
Challenges will ebb and flow, but for us as leaders, party organization is not the ultimate. The ultimate is that Nigerians get democracy and a party they can identify with,” he said.
He spurned the accusation that defections show that they are weak, given that he had noted that combat and reconciliation is all part of the democratic process. “We should be thankful that we have a party that has refused to be derailed. Nigerians do not want a one-party state; they want a multi-party democracy where ideas can flourish,” said the governor.
Talking to the question of the future of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, Makinde insisted that the PDP is not concerned about defections because the ultimate decision lies with the Nigerian people.
“We’re not concerned or bothered because the ultimate decider will be the Nigerian people. The only time we’ll be worried is when hunger defects from the ordinary people on the streets and joins the APC that’s when we’ll be concerned,” he added.
