Makinde fires back: Atiku’s exit can’t shake PDP

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has dismissed concerns over the resignation of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting that the development will not affect the strength or stability of the party.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Akure after delivering a keynote address at a colloquium marking the 10th coronation anniversary of Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, the Deji of Akure, Makinde described the PDP as a resilient political institution.

“I don’t think that will make any dent on the PDP as a party. PDP is an institution, and people have the freedom to come and go,” he said.

Atiku had earlier in the day announced his resignation from the PDP in Adamawa, sparking reactions across political circles.

However, Governor Makinde remained unperturbed, stating that the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the platform rumoured to attract Atiku, does not pose a threat to the PDP.

“I don’t see ADC as a threat. It’s just another political party contesting like others,” he added.

In his keynote lecture titled “The Role of Nigeria’s Traditional Institutions in Nation Building: Impediments, Impacts, and Prospects,” Makinde called for greater integration of traditional rulers into the country’s governance framework.

He emphasised that traditional institutions are not outdated but remain essential to community cohesion, identity, and legitimacy.

“Long before Nigeria’s formal administrative systems, traditional rulers dispensed justice, upheld values, and maintained peace. Today, they remain custodians of grassroots trust, and any nation-building effort that ignores them does so at its peril,” the governor said.

Makinde also highlighted his administration’s efforts in Oyo State to incorporate traditional rulers into local governance, a move he said has yielded remarkable results.

He further argued that building a strong nation goes beyond natural resources. “Nation-building is not about how much oil we produce, but the strength of our institutions and their ability to serve people justly,” he stated.