Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that he will not engage in petty or undignified political exchanges, even if others choose to do so.
The governor made the statement on Thursday while speaking with journalists after attending the South-West zoning consultative summit of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos.
He said, “Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy.”
Makinde emphasized that political disagreements should not be taken personally and must focus on governance and public service.
“I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching,” he added.
He also expressed confidence in the PDP’s resilience, citing its strong performance in recent elections.
Regarding the zoning of the presidential ticket, Makinde clarified that the party’s immediate focus is on strengthening its internal structures rather than premature candidate discussions.
“We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything you are trying to do will fall flat,” he stated.
The event was attended by key PDP figures including Board of Trustees Chairman Adolphus Wabara, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun, and other prominent stakeholders from southern states.
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