Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said he will not descend into the gutters with political rivals despite recent disagreements within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Makinde made the remarks on Thursday in Lagos while addressing journalists after the South-West zoning consultative summit of the PDP. He explained that while political debates and internal disputes are normal in democracy, they must never be reduced to personal attacks or bitter feuds.
“Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them,” the governor said. “Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy.”
He emphasized that disagreements should focus on ideas and governance, not personalities. “I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching,” he added.
Makinde, who has been a key voice in the PDP’s national debates on leadership and power sharing, noted that the party must rise above petty quarrels to regain public confidence. According to him, Nigerians are more interested in credible governance and policies that affect their daily lives than in the internal wrangling of political parties.
At the Lagos summit, party leaders from the South-West gathered to deliberate on zoning arrangements and strategies ahead of future elections. The meeting is part of ongoing consultations across regions to strengthen the PDP’s structure and address challenges that have weakened its cohesion in recent years.
Observers say Makinde’s comments reflect ongoing tensions within the party over power distribution and the approach to rebuilding its influence. Some party chieftains in the zone have publicly disagreed over issues ranging from internal leadership positions to national strategy.
A political analyst based in Ibadan, Dr. Adebayo Adigun, said Makinde’s remarks show an attempt to strike a balance between asserting his position and keeping the door open for reconciliation. “He is making it clear that he won’t be dragged into the mudslinging, but at the same time he acknowledges that reaching out is necessary for unity. That’s the language of someone who sees the bigger picture,” he explained.
Makinde has often positioned himself as a pro-unity figure in the PDP, urging compromise and collaboration even when disagreements intensify. His stance on Thursday further underscored that approach, as he pledged to extend an olive branch to those he believes have adopted divisive tactics.
“The truth is, Nigerians are watching all of us. The people want solutions to insecurity, to poverty, to unemployment. They don’t want us wasting time insulting each other,” the governor said.
With the PDP gearing up for future contests, the Oyo governor’s call for civility and focus on governance may shape how the party presents itself to the electorate. Whether his appeal for restraint resonates across factions of the party remains to be seen, but it highlights a growing recognition that public perception will play a decisive role in upcoming political battles.
