The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, on Sunday, described those who attended Saturday’s political meeting organised by Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan as “clownish characters” who lacked the wherewithal to advance democracy and good governance in the country.
The Oyo APC, in a statement released by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, in Ibadan, the state capital, said neither President Bola Tinubu nor anyone in the ruling APC would lose sleep over the gathering or antics of opposition elements “who do not even possess an iota of seriousness to defeat the incumbent president at the poll any day.”
“They are just wasting their time as it is just impossible for them to catch up with a man who is several kilometres ahead of them in a marathon,” the statement added.
PUNCH Online reports that some notable political figures from major opposition parties were guests of Governor Makinde in Ibadan on Saturday at a one-day Opposition Political Parties National Summit organised to discuss strategies to dislodge the ruling APC from power in 2027.
Sadare continued, “Funny enough, there are some individuals among these opposition jesters who know that President Tinubu travels at the speed of light to outpace his opponents when it comes to real politics, but they would not say the truth to their co-travellers because a dog that is destined for perdition would not mind the whistle of the hunter.
“It is even shameful that Governor Makinde, who has established himself as a naive and deceitful political player, is now the moral compass for some politicians who have recorded irredeemable failures in politics and governance in the past.
“As it stands now, they have gathered only palm fronds to fix a damaged vehicle, even as they look in the direction of fishermen for technical support.
“The ‘Operation Wetie’ threat, which came from Gov. Makinde, would not be taken with a pinch of salt as it was a revelation, but he should realise that no unrest or violence will mar the 2027 general elections.
“The polls will be hitch-free and credible, while he (Makinde) will not find an avenue to escape from the country before May 29, 2027, so that he will be made to answer for the many cases of abuse of office and corruption hanging on his neck.”
National party chairmen who were signatories to the summit included the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark; Hakeem Baba-Ahmed of the Peoples Redemption Party; Ajuji Ahmed of the New Nigeria Peoples Party; Cleopas Moses of the National Democratic Coalition; Nenadi Usman of the Labour Party; Uche Nnadi of the Action Peoples Party; and Mgbudem Maxwell of Accord.
Others included Yusuf Dantalle of the Allied Peoples Movement; Adekunle Omoaje of the Action Alliance; Samuel Memeh; Abdulrahman Abubakar of the Young Progressives Party; Yabagi Sani of the Action Democratic Party; and Dan Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party.
Dignitaries at the summit included former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; the host governor, Makinde; former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi; former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke; and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
Others included former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi; former Minister of Information Jerry Gana; political economist Pat Utomi; and Kashim Ibrahim, among others.