A former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, has attributed his rift with Governor Seyi Makinde to the latter’s alleged plan to single-handedly determine his successor without consulting party stakeholders.

Gbolarumi made this known while hosting members of the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by its Chairman, Mr. Yinka Adeniran, at an Iftar in Ibadan.

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, who is aligned with the Nyesom Wike faction of the party, said his relationship with Makinde had previously been cordial, noting that many residents of the state had expressed surprise over the apparent breakdown in their ties.

He explained that the disagreement began when the governor allegedly indicated his intention to announce a successor without adequate consultation with party leaders, despite his (Gbolarumi’s) interest in contesting the position.

According to him, such a move runs contrary to established political practice within the party.

“He is expected to sit down with PDP leaders in the state for proper consultation on such a critical matter,” he said. “If you look at the composition of commissioners, special advisers and local government chairmen, there was little or no input from party leaders.”

Gbolarumi, who described himself as one of the founding members of the PDP in Oyo State, noted that the party provided the platform through which Makinde emerged as governor in 2019, adding that party leaders had accepted his emergence in good faith.

He, however, expressed concern that the governor’s alleged move to impose a successor could sideline long-standing party stakeholders.

“Does he want to shut us out politically?” he queried.

The former deputy governor also faulted Makinde’s oft-repeated claim that he has no political godfather, insisting that no politician rises to power without the support of others.

“I have told him that I do not subscribe to that principle. There were individuals whom God used in his emergence as governor,” he said.

Gbolarumi maintained that speaking out was a matter of responsibility as a party leader, stressing that it would be wrong to remain silent in the face of developments he considers detrimental to the party.

He, however, downplayed the crisis, describing it as a clash of political interests rather than a personal feud, and expressed optimism that the PDP in the state would soon resolve its internal differences.

“For now, our faction is in control of the party structure in the state,” he added.

Also present at the event were members of the newly inaugurated PDP executive aligned with the Wike faction, led by its chairman, Prof. Raham Akinoso.

Earlier, Adeniran lauded Gbolarumi for his continued support for the union and assured him of fair and balanced reportage of political developments in the state.