Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has disclosed what he described as the “true account” of the meeting between Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Thursday. According to Fayose, Makinde lacked the courage to meet the President alone and therefore went with the Governor of Plateau State for support.
In a statement personally signed by him, Fayose alleged that President Tinubu made it clear that he was willing to listen to Makinde on official matters concerning Oyo State, but not on political issues. Fayose claimed that the President rejected any attempt by Makinde to privately address accusations he had earlier made publicly, including claims that Tinubu was plotting to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. Tinubu reportedly told Makinde that political complaints should be addressed openly, not behind closed doors.
Fayose further stated that the President informed Makinde that he was not expecting his support ahead of the 2027 elections and that he would continue to support his own party. Tinubu was also said to have emphasized that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, remained a consistent and reliable ally whose support he valued. Any dispute between Makinde and Wike, Fayose claimed, was described as a personal matter that should not involve the President.
According to Fayose, these realities explain why Makinde later told journalists that he was comfortable remaining in the Peoples Democratic Party, noting that there was no political space for him in the All Progressives Congress. Fayose concluded by questioning whether Makinde had returned the ₦30 billion federal intervention fund he admitted receiving following the January 2023 Ibadan explosion.
