A former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi, has revealed that his political rift with Governor Seyi Makinde stemmed from disagreements over succession plans within the state.
Gbolarumi made this known in Ibadan while hosting members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by Mr Yinka Adeniran, during an Iftar gathering.
The chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is aligned with the political bloc of Nyesom Wike, stated that his relationship with the governor was previously cordial before tensions emerged.
He explained that the disagreement began when Governor Makinde allegedly indicated plans to select a successor without consulting key PDP leaders in the state, despite his own interest in contesting the position.
According to Gbolarumi, such a decision should involve broader consultations within the party leadership to ensure fairness and unity.
He also criticised what he described as a lack of input from party leaders in key government appointments, including commissioners, special advisers, and local government chairpersons.
Gbolarumi noted that he played a foundational role in establishing the PDP structure in Oyo State, which he said contributed to Makinde’s emergence as governor in 2019.
While acknowledging that party leaders initially accepted Makinde’s rise, he expressed concern that unilateral decisions on succession could sideline other stakeholders politically.
He further disagreed with the governor’s stance on political independence, particularly his claim of having no political godfather, arguing that several individuals contributed to his political success.
Despite the tensions, Gbolarumi downplayed the situation as a clash of political interests rather than a personal conflict, expressing optimism that the PDP in the state would eventually reunite.
He added that his faction currently holds significant influence within the party structure in Oyo State.
Earlier, Mr Yinka Adeniran commended Gbolarumi for his continued support for the NUJ and assured him of balanced and professional media coverage of political developments in the state.
