Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has openly distanced himself from President Bola Tinubu’s re‑election plans, launching a sharp political and personal attack on Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking during a live media chat at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, Makinde accused the former Rivers State governor of working to weaken the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from within.
He recounted a meeting attended by Tinubu, Wike, and other senior officials, alleging that Wike volunteered to “hold the PDP” for the president ahead of the 2027 elections — a statement Makinde said shocked him. He clarified that Tinubu did not request such a pledge.
Makinde stressed that while Wike is free to support Tinubu, he himself would not, warning that attempts to erode the PDP could undermine Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
“Wike is within his rights to support Tinubu. But those of us who want to ensure the survival of multiparty democracy and the PDP should also be allowed to make our own decisions,” he said.
Personal Rivalry and Political Fault Lines
Beyond politics, Makinde drew pointed comparisons between his professional journey and Wike’s, highlighting his early success in the oil sector.
He recalled securing a landmark $1 million contract with Mobil at the age of 29, which he described as a defining moment that shaped his entrepreneurial confidence long before entering public service.
By contrast, he suggested Wike was only beginning his law career at the time.
Makinde linked these personal differences to deeper political disagreements, particularly over Wike’s growing alignment with Tinubu.
I was in a meeting with President Tinubu, Nyesom Wike, and others when Wike volunteered to hold the PDP for Tinubu against 2027, and I was in shock…. Wike can support the president in 2027, but I will not.
— Channels Television (@channelstv) December 23, 2025
– Seyi Makinde, Oyo State Governor#CTVTweets pic.twitter.com/cFCCFyv8of
He alleged that Wike’s actions form part of a broader strategy to undermine the PDP in Oyo State and other opposition‑controlled areas. Efforts to resolve the dispute through dialogue, he said, had failed, forcing him to take a principled stand.
The governor also used the occasion to declare his readiness for higher office, insisting he is “qualified, even overqualified” to serve as Nigeria’s president in 2027.
He pointed to his record as governor and his professional background, arguing that executive experience at the state level has historically prepared leaders for the presidency — citing Tinubu’s own path from Lagos governor to president.
Governance Legacy and Infrastructure
Makinde emphasised that his administration’s legacy would be defined not just by physical projects but by the institutions it builds.
He argued that infrastructure alone does not guarantee lasting impact unless embedded within strong governance systems.
Defending his government’s work on the Ibadan Circular Road project, he dismissed allegations of land grabbing, explaining that the 500‑metre corridor had been gazetted in 2018 before he assumed office.
He described the 110‑kilometre road as a modern motorway designed to ease traffic, support industrial growth, and help Oyo State transition from a consumptive to a productive economy.
On compensation, Makinde said his administration was adopting a humane approach by offering payments even to residents without formal land documentation, provided they can prove residency, to enable resettlement.
Makinde’s comments expose widening cracks within the PDP, where internal disagreements have intensified since the 2023 elections.
His refusal to back Tinubu’s re‑election bid and his criticism of Wike highlight the challenges facing Nigeria’s opposition as it seeks to remain relevant in a political arrangement that is increasingly becoming unipolar with clear dominance of the ruling APC.
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