Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, was represented by his deputy, Raufu Olaniyan, on Tuesday as his colleague-governors from the southwest visited Asiwaju Tinubu’s residence at Bordillion in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
Though Makinde was an agricultural programme put together by the state, OYOINSIGHT.COM understands that Makinde is the only Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governor from the southwest and the host is nursing ambition to succeed Muhammadu Buhari as president from 2023.
At the meeting, Ondo governor and chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, declared that Tinubu, who is a former Lagos State governor and national leader of the All Progressives Congress,,APC), is doing his best as leader of the Southwest.
Akeredolu, who spoke on behalf of his brother governors, said the governors in the region believe in the leadership of Tinubu.
He noted that Tinubu is not just the leader of the Southwest but also the only national leader of the APC in the country.
He explained that they decided to pay the APC National leader a visit after the Southwest Governors’ Forum meeting which took place earlier in Lagos.
“We held the Southwest Governors’ Forum meeting. After the meeting, we deemed it fit to come over and visit our leader who has returned home successfully and who is hale and hearty.
“We have come to show our love for him and thank God on his behalf. He has been receiving visitors here. This place has turned into Mecca. We are here as part of the pilgrims.
“The National leader of APC remains one. Most of us in the Southwest believe in his leadership and it shows that he’s doing his best to lead us.
“He is not only the leader of the Southwest but also the National leader of the APC in Nigeria. But we in the Southwest first lay claim to him as our leader,” Akeredolu said.