Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has disclosed his initial opposition to Senator Aminu Tambuwal’s appointment as Director General for Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential campaign, citing concerns about regional balance.
In a Channels TV interview from 1:30, Gov. Makinde explained that the selection process occurred before any public announcement. “They were planning, and it has not been announced at that time that the DG of the presidential campaign will be governor of Sokoto state,” he said.
He clarified that his objection wasn’t about Tambuwal’s qualifications. “Then Senator Tambuwal and I said, ‘Look, it’s not that he’s not qualified, it’s not that he cannot do the work of DG, but if the three main influential positions you know to take us to the election is occupied by the Northeast, the North Central, and the Northwest, how do we sell that position all around the country?'”
The governor described the resulting factional issues as “self-inflicted,” suggesting that the controversial “G5” splinter group need never have formed. “There wouldn’t have been any G5,” he stated.
He revealed his attempts at reconciliation immediately after the party’s convention. “Even the day after the convention, I went to my very good friend Governor Fintiri of Adamawa state, and I said, ‘Look, make this a government or a ticket of unity ticket. Get Governor Wike, let’s appeal to him, and let him be on that ticket.'”
He maintained that addressing these concerns would have strengthened the party’s position. “There wouldn’t have been any G5, and it would have been a stronger ticket really to face the APC. But all the people around our candidate, they rejected it,” Makinde concluded.
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