Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, South West Nigeria has declared that there are no more vagabonds in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), an apparent reference to his estranged political friend, Chief Nyesom Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers state and current FCT Minister and his supporters.
The governor, who made the declaration last Tuesday while unveiling the Oyo State PDP headquarters in Ibadan, the state capital stated that those who wielded undue influence within the party and whom he described as ‘vagabonds’ have been expelled from the party, adding that the party was now free of internal disruption.
He said, “In Yoruba land, we always say that if you see a house or a compound that is peaceful, the vagabond in that house has not grown up,” and pointed out that: “In 2015, PDP lost power at the federal level. There was a gap in the leadership. Otherwise, those vagabonds would never have been able to take hold of PDP.”
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State
“They grew up in 2015, they had their time and for 10 years, a decade, they practised their vagabondry in the PDP. But they have been expelled in November 2025. So, there are no more vagabonds in PDP,” he told the party faithful at the event.
He confessed, “Let me confess. I came into government in 2019 and towards 2023, I was yoked with them. But now, I’ve repented.”
Meanwhile, a political scientist, Akinwunmi Akinfenwa has stated that Governor Seyi Makinde was in full and firm control of the PDP in the state.
Akinfenwa reportedly made the remarks last Wednesday while fielding questions in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’.
Chief Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister
He said, “While we can acknowledge that the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike is strong politically, when it comes to Ibadan politics, we must give it to Governor Seyi Makinde.
“President Tinubu is just trying to be pragmatic with his recent comments on the Rivers crisis because Wike delivered in 2023 and he has firm control of the grassroots in Rivers State.
“And the President is aware of this and so he has to bring him closer, because he’s thinking about 2027 when there will be a presidential election.
“So he knows that he needs him. It’s a terrible thing in politics, but there’s nothing anybody can do about that.”
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