Wike’s Aide Olayinka Criticises Makinde Over Choice of Former DSS Boss Lawal Daura as Running Mate
The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has criticised Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate Seyi Makinde for selecting former Department of State Services (DSS) Director-General Lawal Daura as his running mate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Olayinka questioned the wisdom of the choice, highlighting that Daura was sacked by then-Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
Osinbajo first assumed the role of Acting President on 5 February 2016 during a short vacation by the late President Muhammadu Buhari. He later acted in the same capacity during Buhari’s subsequent medical leaves, including periods in January 2017 and from 7 May to 19 August 2017.
On 7 August 2018, Osinbajo dismissed Daura as DSS Director-General following an unauthorised siege and blockade of the National Assembly complex by masked security operatives.
In a post on X, Olayinka wrote:
“Una remember this man? He is Lawal Daura, the former DSS Director-General. As DG DSS under Buhari’s government, Lawal Daura tried to sack the National Assembly until Osinbajo, who was acting President then, blocked and later sacked him.
That’s the man Ibadan Gomina General, Seyi Makinde picked as his running mate to contest for the president of Iwo Road and Bodija.
Sebi it is birds of the same feather that flock together, nah.”
The comments come after Makinde unveiled Daura as his running mate at the APM national convention, a move the governor said was deliberate to help tackle Nigeria’s security challenges. Daura had replaced an earlier placeholder candidate.