Former Governor of Ekiti State , Ayodele Fayose , on Wednesday, warned the Governor of Oyo State , Seyi Makinde , to stop disrespecting him or he will “ work against” him ( Makinde ) .
“ If Governor Makinde continues to disrespect me, I will work against him , ” Fayose stated on a PUNCH Live interview.
Of late , the leadership of the South – West arm of the Peoples Democratic Party has been embroiled in crisis with Fayose and Makinde at the centre of the ruckus .
Makinde , a first term governor , is the only governor of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South – West zone while the other five states in the region are ruled by the governors of the All Progressives Congress.
Speaking on Wednesday , Fayose said he was amongst party chieftains who worked in 2019 to ensure Makinde emerged the winner of the governorship election in Oyo .
Makinde is constitutionally permitted to run for second term in 2023 but Fayose warned him to retrace his step of he will work against his re -election .
The ex – governor of Ekiti , therefore , urged Makinde to speak out if he has anything against him .
When asked what the bone of contention between himself and the Oyo State governor was , Fayose said , “ He ( Makinde ) is the one to tell you if there is any bone of contention. In this West, I am his brother, I am his father.
Fayose stated , “ When Makinde was to contest, I was the one that presented the flag to him and a red pen . It is a higher authority that hangs your rank , a senior officer hangs the rank of a junior officer , that means he saw me as a leader at the time I was giving him the flag at Ogbomosho.
“ It was Governor ( Rasheed) Ladoja that was holding the structure that we gave to him ( Makinde ) , I was the only sitting governor at the time. I had powers to influence it negatively. Are you telling me the man that gave you red pen has suddenly become your enemy ? If he has anything against me , let him say it . Governor Makinde should take it easy .
“ When they were contesting election in Oyo State , I was the one giving him information about the senatorial election . I never slept all night . In his own election , I was with him in Ibadan. If he disrespects us , we will tell him that we have capacity to … I am not his mate.
“ If he wants peace , he should stop that nonsense , I say it again nonsense . I mean every word I am saying . I ’ m a responsible Nigerian . If we were born in the same family , I will be older than Governor Makinde by 10 years even if I was not governor . I should be respected. I am a respectable figure in this country , forget any other story any other politician may say . ”
Fayose also said he has no plan to join the APC or any other political party. “
We need certain level of honour, we need certain level of principles to be able to lead in this country, ” he noted .
“ Even when I was supporting Governor ( Kayode ) Fayemi in Ekiti , I told them I can never join APC in my life. It was Governor ( Segun) Oni that disrespected me and I worked for Governor Fayemi. If Governor Makinde continues to disrespect me like this , I will work against him . I don’ t operate underneath ; you know where you are with me . If Governor Makinde wants to hear the story of how he became governor , I will tell him , ” the ex -governor added .
