I have been seeing very disturbing videos, pictures and reading equally disturbing news of the unfortunate incident at the National Headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, located at Wadata Plaza in the Federal Capital Territory.
Very unfortunate and disturbing narratives.
Let me say this, that, if truly, teargas were fired directly at people, in a manner that could occasion injuries, I do not support such actions from Security Agencies.
However, it is important to say that the events at Wadata Plaza this morning was avoidable.
In the first instance, I could be wrong, but I think the faction of the PDP, led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike were the first to put out a notice for a National Executive Council, NEC meeting yesterday.
It was later in the day that I began to read in the news that the Makinde faction had also slated its factional NEC meeting for the same venue, Wadata Plaza and about same time.
That was the beginning of today’s crisis.
The factional NEC meetings couldn’t have been a tea party.
There is no way the two factions would meet at the same venue and there won’t be crisis.
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Secondly, it appeared like the Wike faction were the first to gain entry into Wadata Plaza this morning but Makinde and his Bauchi state counterpart forced their ways through the security agents and from that moment, the crisis escalated.
Like I said, I have seen very disturbing videos of this ugly scenario.
I saw a particular video where some young men were attacking a door within the Party Secretariat, breaking glasses and acting violently while Governors Bala and Makinde watched.
I saw how the duo forced their ways through security lines to gain entrance into the Plaza.
When I saw the tenacity with which Governors Makinde and Bala Mohammed fought to gain entry into the Wadata Plaza, I asked myself if the duo could be that tenacious in fighting for the entitlements and the well being of their respective citizens.
Now, before the lickspittles begin to twist my narratives and present me as an apologist of either of the sides, let me explain why I think Governors Makinde and Bala Mohammed acted recklessly.
I think they could have left the Wike side to do whatever it is that they had wanted to do today and perhaps, fix their own NEC meeting for tomorrow.
Secondly, having gotten to the place and discovering that the other faction had already gained entry, I thought could they have at least waited and allowed them to finish before they attempt to gain entry.
I know their supporters would say oh, what if the Wike side took over the place and lock it up for good?
My simple answer to that is, did they not eventually take over the place and ended up doing what they set out to do despite the fracas?
The problem with Governor Seyi Makinde and his co travelers is that they don’t know who not to fight, when not to fight and how not to fight.
Governor Makinde in particular is surrounded by a great number of mediocre and sycophants.
Yesterday, an unknown fellow took me up on certain issues I raised about the Circular Road and Governor Makinde’s romance with some individuals and Groups.
The fellow accused me of being emotional and unrealistic without specifically bringing any material facts to back up his accusations.
When I Challenged him to bring out his facts so that we could engage intellectually, he claimed that the information at his disposal, if let out, would shake the tables.
I immediately lost interest in engaging with him.
Very many like him are around the Governor.
Good in theories but having nothing to show in practice.
Like I said, strategically, Governor Makinde is too weak to confront his foes who are more formidable, war tested and vicious.
He is like a toddler who challenged his grandfather to a wrestling match.
The loin clothes of the old man is blinding him.
When I saw Governor Makinde saying that he and his followers are fighting for the survival of Democracy, I felt like, he thinks that we are all gullible.
Governor Seyi Makinde, who, against the provisions of section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, declared that he doesn’t believe in local Government autonomy, now turned to a freedom fighter?
Governor Makinde who disobeyed all the layers of Courts in Nigeria to install Samuel Adebayo Adegbola, his puppet, as the Eleruwa of Eruwa, is now fighting for Democracy?
Can Democracy thrive where there is no justice and the rules of Law is been trampled upon as he enjoys doing?
Governor Makinde who declared that he saw a lacuna in the judgment of the Supreme Court which granted financial autonomy to the 774 Local Governments in Nigeria is now the one who wants to defend Democracy in Nigeria?
Governor Makinde who once declared that he wasn’t going to obey the judgment of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria which ordered him to pay the accumulated salaries and allowances for the Local Government Chairmen and Councilors elected under Ajimobi, is now the messiah, who wants to fight for Nigeria’s Democracy?
Governor Makinde, who, in 2021 and 2024 stifled opposition political parties during local Government elections, dispatching thugs to wreck havocs in Eruwa and many other places is now our Champion of Democracy?
Only two sets of people would believe him.
Those who do not have correct information about him or the gullible ones.
My simple advice for the Governor is that he shouldn’t concern himself with the fight for the survival of Democracy in Nigeria.
It is beyond him.
He should also reconsider the decision to go AWOL by staying in Abuja for two weeks just because he wants to be fighting for the survival of Democracy.
His primary assignments are in Oyo state.
He can not set fire in people’s homes in Ibadan and hide away in Abuja on the pretence of fighting for Democracy.
If he had dedicated half of the energy he has been wasting on the PDP, to governance in Oyo state, there won’t be protesters on the roads in Ibadan.
Governor Makinde’s struggles in Abuja is a personal war for his survival.
He can only fool the uninformed and the gullible ones with the Democracy narratives.
Instead of giving it all in a personal dogfights in Abuja, Governor Makinde should come home and give his all to resolve the crisis his Government is perpetuating at the Circular road.
Just yesterday, a Chieftain of the PDP, Haliru Amma, in an interview, alleged that Governor Makinde pushed for the factional National Convention of the PDP at Ibadan ” at all costs” despite internal disagreements within the Party.
He made this remarks in an interview on Channels Television.
He alleged that the Convention went ahead for two major reasons: the personal interests of the former PDP Chairman, Umar Damagun and Governor Makinde’s heavy financial investments in preparations.
There is no doubts that Governor Makinde invested so much time and resources on the factional National Convention.
The question is, whose resources?
Could it have been the Governor’s personal resources or state resources?
Your guess is as good as mine.
Yet, some lickspittles would not want you to talk about this manifest recklessness.
I said earlier that Governor Makinde doesn’t know who not to fight, when not to fight and how not to fight.
I am surprised that he left the battles in his backyard to keep raging while at the same time, he launched another battle against formidable political opponents in Abuja.
That is not clever at all.
You can not fight a war on multiple fronts and expect to win.
Why no one would take Governor Makinde serious in this self imposed battle for the survival of Democracy is the fact that he is not different from those he chose to be fighting with now.
Was he not a member of the G-5 in 2023?
Did he and others not work with the opposition to destroy the PDP in 2023?
When did he apologize for his actions of 2023?
If the PDP knew what they were doing, they ought to have expelled him and others a long time ago?
I also said that Governor Makinde doesn’t know how not to fight.
If he does, he and his faction woul not walk into an open trap this morning.
He would have known that any altercation within the premises of the PDP National Secretariat would provide a valid excuse for the police to step in and once that happens, he and his followers would be at a disadvantage.
Immediately they announce the holding of their NEC meeting for this morning, they got into a trap.
I will not talk about those who he ought not to fight for now.
In the fullness of time, we will all see.
Like I said, Governor Makinde should return home to attend to governance in Oyo state.
He has gotten his ego bruised enough at the National stage.
If he keeps pushing his luck, he will get his ego battered.
If you don’t choose your battles wisely, you are bound to be messed up. ( Eni to ba ju ni lo…).
Sola Abegunde.
