Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu did not grant Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, the reception he expected during his visit to the Presidential Villa on Thursday.
Fayose made the allegation in a statement released hours after the meeting, in which he claimed that the Oyo governor failed to secure a one on one meeting with the President.
According to Fayose, Makinde was reportedly accompanied by Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, whom he allegedly relied on to gain access to Tinubu.
“Here is the true story of what happened in the Villa when Governor Seyi Makinde visited the President today. First, Governor Seyi Makinde demonstrated that he now lacked enough courage to face the President alone; he had to enlist the support of the Plateau State Governor,” the statement stated.
The former Ekiti governor further claimed that Tinubu drew a clear line between governance matters and political discussions during the meeting.
“The President told him that if it was about official matters regarding Oyo State, he will listen to him,” Fayose said.
“But if it had to do with politics and any claim that it was Wike that angered him to go on TV to accuse him of plotting to turn the country into a one party state, it is better to, as usual, go on TV to say all he had to say.”
Fayose also alleged that Makinde was warned against taking contradictory positions behind closed doors and in public.
“He was told pointedly that he can’t come to the closet on political matters to eat his words while saying another thing to the public,” the statement added.
On the 2027 general election, Fayose claimed that Tinubu indicated he was not counting on Makinde’s support going forward.
“The President told Governor Makinde that he was not expecting any support from him regarding 2027, and that he should also expect that the President will support his party,” Fayose disclosed.
The former governor further alleged that Tinubu reaffirmed his working relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing Makinde’s disagreement with him as a personal issue.
“Wike is someone whose support and consistency the President can’t deny or wish away,” Fayose said. “If Makinde has issues with Wike, that is between the two of them.”
He concluded by questioning the use of funds released to Oyo State after the January 2023 Ibadan explosion.
“Shouldn’t Makinde tell the people of Oyo State if he has returned the N30bn he admitted to have received from the Federal Government as intervention fund?” he asked.