Makinde To Meet Oke Ogun Leaders Next Week Over Running Mate

Governor Seyi Makinde will, early next week, meet with leaders of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, from Oke Ogun, this newspaper has reliably gathered.

The meeting is to finalize talks on who will be the governor's running mate at the 2023 general elections contrary to rumour that the Governor has picked Barrister Bayo Lawal.

A source very close to the Governor who was privy to the details of meeting told this newspaper that at the end of the meeting, a running mate will be picked among those penciled down for the position.

He added that it's certain that Engineer Rauf Olaniyan will not be the running mate of the Governor at the 2023 election.

His words: "Yes, I can confirm to you that a meeting has been scheduled for early next week. The Governor wants to meet leaders of the party from Oke Ogun zone over his choice of running mate.

"Contrary to rumour in circulation, the governor hasn't picked anybody as his running mate. He only has some notable people penciled down for the post. He's expected to pick from those people. We all know that Engineer Rauf Olaniyan will not be the governor's running mate in 2023."

This newspaper gathered that some of those penciled down and being rumoured to be running mate included Barrister Lanre Agoro, Barrister Bayo Lawal, Rt Hon Musah Abdulwasi, Alhaji Ayansiju Lawal, Hon Abiodun Supo and others.

Similarly, someone who doesn't want his name mentioned confirmed that he has been invited for the meeting.

He however didn't disclose who sent the invitation and the venue of the meeting.

He added that the meeting in strictly for leaders of the party from Oke Ogun zone.

"Well, I can only confirm to you that a meeting of Oke Ogun leaders has been scheduled for early next week. For security reasons, I won't tell you the venue and time. But I'm sure it's about the His Excellency's running mate.

"We all heard rumour yesterday that the Governor has picked Barrister Bayo Lawal. I can confirm to you that it's not true. The governor can't pick anyone without due consultation. That's why he's calling us to a meeting to decide.

In a related development, A group, Concerned Muslim Brotherhood, has urged Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state to use a practicing and devoted Muslim as his running mate for the interest of the Muslim ummah.

The group made this plea in a statement signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Gbolagade Abdulmajeed and Secretary, Mr Akeem Aderibigbe and made available to newsmen on Wednesday, in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

They said the Governor has already picked enough christian and non-devoted Muslim as senatorial candidates citing Chief Lukman Oyebisi Ilaka for Oyo Central, Engineer Joseph Tegbe for Oyo South and Mr Akinwole Akinwale also known as Wolekanle for Oyo North.

The group while reacting to a rumour that the Governor has picked Barrister Bayo Lawal as his running mate said Bayo Lawal isn't well known to the Muslim community in the state adding that his wife and children are devoted Christians.

While calling on the Governor not to allow his choice of running mate to ruin his second term chance, they said the people of Oyo state want the Governor to continue his good work to be able to take the state from poverty to prosperity.