Dimeji Fabiyi, a colleague of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said Governor Seyi Makinde’s statement on the eligibility criteria for presidential candidates paints the Oyo State governor as a student of history.
Governor Makinde had made statements hinting at age as a limiting factor for presidential candidates.
However, the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Mr. Fabiyi, in his reply to Mr. Makinde, pointed out that Mr. Atiku is sound both physically and mentally and has intellectual aptitude far greater than Mr. Seyi Makinde. did.
Fabiyi said in a statement to Naija News on Wednesday that Atiku may be older than Makinde, but he has experience and international problem-solving skills.
He said: “In fact, I challenge Seyi Makinde to an intellectual battle with Atiku and you will see how his arrogance and youthful intentions are humbled.
“I have known Atiku for almost 30 years and I can tell you for free that he is an avid reader.The next time Seyi Makinde visits this town, he will be amazed at how rich and complete Atiku’s library is. I need to find out if it is.
“Atiku is not a connoisseur of expensive wine, nor does he have any intention of dealing with reluctant drinkers.In fact, he is a bookworm who reads a wide range of books.
“Unless Mr. Makinde believes that aerodynamic strength determines leadership, he should have been more guided before making comments that make him look like a clown.”
The PDP leader also advised the Oyo State governor to draw lessons from the just-concluded US presidential election in which President-elect Donald Trump achieved a resounding victory over his much younger opponent.
“Politics is a marketplace of ideas, and the fact is, this is where experience and age are definitely an asset. President Trump is of the same generation as Mr. Atiku. But look at his solid victory over the Republican Party. It is clear that American voters see greater leadership assets in his leadership than in his primary opponents.
“With this in mind, I advise Governor Makinde to spend more time reading good books and be more familiar with intellectuals instead of hanging out with alcoholics, so that next time “When I give a talk, I don’t want to be misunderstood as this person. I’m proud to be able to drink 40-year-old whisky,” Fabiyi said.
