Former deputy governor Gbolarumi reveals reason for disagreement with Makinde

A rift between Governor Seyi Makinde and former Oyo State Deputy Governor Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi was sparked by the governor's decision to hand-pick a successor, according to Gbolarumi.

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This revelation was made during an Iftar event in Ibadan, where Gbolarumi hosted the Executives of the Oyo State Correspondents' Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, led by Mr Yinka Adeniran.

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Prior to the fallout, Gbolarumi claimed that his relationship with Governor Makinde was cordial, with the two having a good understanding.

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The Iftar event was also attended by the newly inaugurated executive of the PDP faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, led by its chairman, Prof. Raham Akinoso, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.

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Many citizens of the state were left wondering about the origin of the rift between Gbolarumi and Makinde, with the former explaining that it began when the governor announced his intention to choose a successor without consulting PDP leaders.

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According to Gbolarumi, he had expressed interest in contesting, but Makinde's decision to unilaterally select a successor was a point of contention, as the governor had also made appointments without input from PDP leaders.

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Gbolarumi, one of the founding fathers of the PDP in Oyo State, noted that the party leaders had accepted Makinde's emergence as governor in 2019, but the governor's decision to choose a successor would hinder their progress.

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The former deputy governor questioned whether Makinde's intention was to politically undermine them, expressing his dissatisfaction with the governor's assertion that he had no godfather in politics.

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Gbolarumi stated that he had discussed this principle with Makinde, emphasizing that he disagreed with it, as there were individuals who had contributed to the governor's rise to power.

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As a PDP leader in the state, Gbolarumi felt it was his duty to speak truth to the governor, and he described the rift between them as a clash of political interests rather than a personal fight.

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Gbolarumi expressed optimism that the PDP would soon be united, but for now, his faction was in control of the party in the state.

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Earlier, Mr Yinka Adeniran, Chairman of the Correspondents' Chapel of the NUJ, Oyo State Council, praised Gbolarumi for his consistent support and pledged to provide accurate and fair reporting of issues in the state.