Amid a wave of high-profile defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rival parties, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has downplayed the political drama, declaring that Nigerians’ most significant concern should be the issue of hunger and deprivation in the country.
In his bi-monthly newsletter released on Thursday, Governor Makinde stated that while political analysts remain fixated on shifting allegiances, particularly the movement of PDP governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the real issue plaguing Nigerians is the soaring cost of living and the daily struggle for survival.
“For me, the only defection that truly matters is the one that has not happened yet, the defection of hunger. While people are busy changing parties, Nigerians are struggling to afford the necessities. Families are being forced to make impossible choices daily. These are the real issues, not political realignment,” Makinde wrote.
Makinde criticised what he called a distraction from urgent national conversations, warning that political theatrics are being used to divert attention from the economic hardship and inequality deepening across the country.
“We cannot continue pretending that everything is fine simply because someone in government says so. What we are experiencing is the widening of inequality. While the rich are adjusting, the poor are sinking, and that is what must command our attention,” he said.
The governor also made it clear that the outcome of the 2027 general election will not be determined by elite realignments, but by the lived experiences of Nigerians who are battered by poverty, inflation, and insecurity.
“No matter how many defections are engineered, it is the Nigerian people who will decide the outcome of the 2027 elections. Our job in the PDP is to continue to provide proof that we can deliver relief where others have brought pain,” he noted.
Makinde recalled the PDP’s track record during what he termed “a period of relative prosperity” in Nigeria, referencing a time when salaries were substantial, businesses could plan, and hope was tangible.
He said that the upcoming PDP national convention, scheduled for November and to take place in Ibadan, offers a vital opportunity for the party to reset its vision, rebuild trust, and reclaim its reputation as a people-first platform.
“It will be more than a gathering of party faithful. It will be an opportunity to reassert our values and send a clear message that we are focused on rebuilding lives, not merely rebuilding structures of power. Let Others Defect for Convenience, We Stand for Conscience”, he said.
Makinde called on Nigerians to stay engaged, keep their eyes on the real issues, and refuse to accept hunger and hardship as normal. He affirmed that the PDP under his watch will continue to push policies that serve the people, not just political interests.
“Let others defect for convenience. Let us stand firm for conscience. When hunger finally defects, prosperity will return, and so will our pride as a people,” he said.
The governor also tied his message to his recent reading of “Money: A Story of Humanity” by David McWilliams, drawing attention to how economic decisions affect real lives, not just spreadsheets.
“Every decision that takes money out of people’s pockets moves them closer to poverty. Policies divorced from the realities of hunger, unemployment, and the erosion of dignity are not policies worth defending,” he added.
