Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has said the recent wave of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has vindicated former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and the G-5 governors who were previously labelled as traitors.
Speaking during an interview on TVC, Fayose said, “Most of the governors that jumped did so in their own interest, for what they felt would secure their future and their people. I wouldn’t blame them.”
He disclosed that he had earlier warned PDP leaders about looming challenges within the party.
“When the roof started sinking, I came out and spoke. I told Sẹ́un Okinbaloye that the PDP would face a lot of challenges,” he stated.
Fayose said Wike was open about grievances within the party, particularly regarding agreements reached with the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, which he claimed were not honoured.
“Governor Wike did not hide anything. He openly said that what Atiku agreed with them was not done. He fought that cause and he did not fight alone,” Fayose said.
He added that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and other members of the G-5 alliance stood firm, noting that they engaged the president on several occasions.
According to Fayose, although many Nigerians initially branded the G-5 governors as traitors, recent events have changed perceptions.
“Many people saw the G-5 governors as traitors. But if you sit back now, the presidential candidate of the PDP has left, the vice-presidential candidate has left, governors and senators have left,” he said.
Fayose concluded that the mass defections show that Wike had foreseen the crisis earlier than others.
“That means Wike has been vindicated. What they never saw, Wike saw earlier on,” he said.
