Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, has distanced himself from speculation linking Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to a 2027 presidential bid, stating that the PDP governor has never discussed such an ambition with him.
Speaking with journalists at an event in Abuja, Emmanuel said attempts to link Makinde to the 2027 presidency may be politically motivated.
He said, “Governor Makinde is my friend, a former colleague and one of the strong leaders of the PDP, to which I belong. I can say on my honour that Seyi has never told me he is running for President, and if we are as close as we are and he hasn’t told me, then I suspect that people are just using that slant as a means of blackmail, to either prevent him from continuing to champion the rebuilding process of our party or to sow seeds of discord between him and the President.”
He noted that anyone with political ambition usually undertakes consultations but insisted, “My friend Seyi has not reached me or anyone I know of, on that matter.”
The former governor stressed that Makinde has remained committed to the survival of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Emmanuel said, “What I know and I’m certain of is that he (Seyi) is a true party man, who, like many of us in the PDP, is totally committed to the resuscitation of the party that offered us a platform for political recognition and service to our people.
“We cannot just abandon the party; it’s morally wrong to do so. We run a multi-party democratic structure, which must be nourished to stability. There will always be a ruling party and opposition parties, and we must imbibe the spirit of political tolerance that helps to consolidate democracy in nations where it is practised, which Nigeria is one.”
On his relative silence since handing over power in 2023, Emmanuel explained that it was deliberate.
He added, “I had promised at the twilight of my administration that when I leave office, I will leave the stage for my successor and retreat to my private life and engagements, and that is exactly what I have done.
“I have returned to my private life, but that doesn’t mean that I have left or retired from politics. After all, I still relate with and share ideas with many leaders at different levels, especially governors who ask for my opinion on diverse matters relating to public governance.
“I believe that there is time for everything, that’s what the Holy Book says. So, there is time for politics, there is time for business, I mean everything has its time, and I’m abiding by that principle.”
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