Dimeji Fabiyi, an associate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has described the remarks by Governor Seyi Makinde on the qualifying criteria for presidential candidates as portraying the Oyo State Governor as a poor student of history.
Governor Makinde had made a remark insinuating age as a limiting factor for presidential hopefuls.
But Fabiyi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, in his response to Makinde, noted that Atiku is of sound mind and body, with the intellectual firmament that measures far ahead of Seyi Makinde.
In a statement to Naija News on Wednesday, Fabiyi noted that while Atiku may be older than Makinde, he has the experience and a cosmopolitan ability to problem-solve.
He said: “As a matter of fact, I challenge Seyi Makinde to an intellectual contest with Atiku, and we shall see how his arrogance and presumed youthfulness will be humbled.
“I have known Atiku for almost three decades, and I can tell you for free that he’s an avid reader. When next Seyi Makinde is in town, he should seek out how resourceful and flourishing Atiku’s library is.
“Atiku is not a connoisseur of expensive wines and doesn’t keep the company of cringe drinkers. Rather, he’s a lover of books who reads widely.
“Unless Makinde believes that leadership is determined by aerodynamic strength, he should have been more guided before making a comment that makes him look like a clown.”
The PDP chieftain further admonished the Oyo State governor to take a lesson from the just concluded presidential election in the United States where President-elect Donald Trump won overwhelmingly against a much younger opponent.
“Politics is a marketplace of ideas. As a matter of fact, it is a place where experience and age are undeniable assets. President Trump is Atiku’s contemporary in age. But it is clear by the convincing win he secured for the Republicans that the electorate in the United States acknowledges more leadership assets in him than his main opponent.
“It is on this note that I will admonish Governor Makinde to devote more time to reading good books and familiarise himself more with intellectuals, instead of keeping the company of alcoholics, so that when next he speaks he won’t be mistaken for someone who prides himself for drinking 40 years old whiskey,” Fabiyi said.