Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, has taken a swipe at Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking on Tuesday at the unveiling the Oyo PDP secretariat in Ibadan, Makinde said that the main opposition party is now free of internal disruption.
The governor stated that “vagabonds” who previously held sway within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been expelled.
Recall that Wike and other 10 members of his faction were expelled for alleged anti-party activities at the PDP convention held in Ibadan in 2025
Drawing from a Yoruba proverb to explain recent developments, Makinde said, “In Yoruba land, we always say that if you see a house or a compound that is peaceful, the vagabond in that house has not grown up.”
He explained that the group gained prominence after the PDP lost power at the federal level in 2015, a period he said created a leadership vacuum.
Makinde said “In 2015, PDP lost power at the federal level. There was a gap in the leadership. Otherwise, those vagabonds would never have been able to take hold of PDP.
“They grew up in 2015, they had their time, and for 10 years, a decade, they practised their vagabondry in the PDP.
“But they have expelled in November 2025. So, there is no more vagabond in PDP.”
Makinde distanced both himself and the state government from the party’s ongoing legal disputes and national leadership issues.
Reflecting on his political journey, the Oyo State governor admitted he was once aligned with the group but has since withdrawn his support.
“Let me confess. I came into government in 2019, and towards 2023, I was yoked with them. But now, I’ve repented,” he said.
“For them to hold PDP for another two years, no, no, no.”
He concluded by suggesting that the group’s influence was waning, describing them as “wearing rags, dancing around at midnight,” and predicting that they would soon disperse.
