A former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has explained why
he was not at the Peoples Democratic Party South-West leaders’ meeting.
The meeting which held at the Oyo State Government House,
Ibadan, was meant to reconcile Fayose with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
The meeting had Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, former
Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Ekiti State Governor,
Mr Segun Oni, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, Makinde and others in attendance.
However, Fayose, his loyalists and some PDP leaders in Oyo State who are supporting Dr Eddy Olafeso’s bid to return as the National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (South-West) were absent at the meeting.
When contacted on Thursday, Mr. Lere Olayinka, the media
aide to Fayose said although the former governor wanted to attend the meeting,
his loyalists said they would not sit on the same table with Makinde because of
his utterances and actions.
“Fayose did not attend the meeting. Those invited from the
other side said they were not going to be part of the meeting. They said they
did not want to go to the Government House or sit on the same table with
Governor Makinde,” Olayinka told Punch.
“The impression as at yesterday (Wednesday) was that the
meeting would be shifted but I believe Governor Wike just came to attend it for
formality sake.
“One thing is that nothing can be achieved without the other
side at the meeting.”
However, Governor Wike also told journalists that all the
leaders and stakeholders had agreed since Wednesday night to shelve the
reconciliation meeting due to the absence of some other leaders due to
logistics reasons.
He said he was around because he had already promised
Governor Makinde of a visit but merely decided to respect some leaders from the
region who were also in the state initially for a meeting.
He added the leaders also decided to postpone the meeting to
a later date so as not to do a job that would be requiring another urgent
meeting thereafter.
When asked on how soon peace should be expected back in the
region, Wike said it would be presumptuous to give a definite timeframe due to
the fact that all interest must be carried along and secure their commitment.
“We should not be in a hurry. Peace takes a lot of talking
to people and you know in politics, you need to talk to people for people to
understand.
“It is not something you see that because you met today, and
because you are meeting tomorrow, everything must be resolved on that
particular thing.
“Politics is of interest and so you need to make sure that
everybody is fully involved. So, let us not be in a hurry to see when do you
think.”
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