Wike to Makinde: Stop the Media Lies

The political alliance within the G-5 governors appears to be fraying at the edges as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, launched a blistering counter-attack against Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. During an end-of-year media chat in Port Harcourt on Monday, Wike dismissed claims that he ever promised to “hold down” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for President Bola Tinubu. He labeled the allegation a “blatant lie” designed to mislead the public.

The friction ignited after Governor Makinde recently suggested that Wike made the commitment during a private 2024 meeting at the State House. Responding with his signature bluntness, Wike insisted that his support for the President has always been a matter of public record and requires no clandestine agreements. He argued that it is illogical to suggest he would need a secret meeting to express a stance that he has already shouted from the rooftops.

According to Wike, the root of Makinde’s recent outburst is not political principle, but personal frustration. The Minister alleged that the Oyo State Governor is “angry and frustrated” because President Tinubu reportedly rejected Makinde’s preferred candidate for a ministerial slot. Wike suggested that this perceived slight has pushed the Governor to resort to “pedestrian” attacks and misinformation on national television to settle scores with the administration.

The Minister did not stop at political jabs; he pivoted to a more serious financial allegation involving the Bodija explosion that rocked Ibadan in January 2024. Wike claimed that Governor Makinde has received more tangible support from the Tinubu-led federal government than almost any other state leader. Specifically, he pointed to a N50 billion grant allegedly approved for the reconstruction of the Bodija area and victim relief.

Wike challenged the Governor to provide a transparent account of how those funds were utilized. He noted that while he is often accused of wielding too much influence, it is Makinde who must explain why such a massive intervention was not properly appropriated before being spent. “The people of Oyo State deserve to know,” Wike asserted, suggesting that the Governor’s focus on PDP internal politics is a convenient smokescreen to avoid domestic accountability.

The FCT Minister also addressed his role in the current government, clarifying that his primary focus is ensuring that his political associates, particularly members of the G-5, are not sidelined. He emphasized that as a Minister, he works for the success of the President’s agenda, but he maintains his independence within the PDP. He denied that there was any “secret mandate” to sabotage the opposition from within, calling the idea a figment of Makinde’s imagination.

The fallout between the two former allies signals a significant shift in the internal power dynamics of the PDP as the 2027 election cycle begins to loom. For years, Wike and Makinde were seen as the twin pillars of the G-5 “Integrity Group.” However, this latest exchange suggests that the bond has been broken by conflicting interests and the scramble for relevance in the Tinubu era.

Wike concluded his media chat by urging his colleagues to stick to the facts rather than “cheap headline-chasing.” He reiterated that his loyalty to the President is firm and transparent, and he would not allow anyone to use his name to play “wayo” or create false narratives. As the year winds down, the “Port Harcourt powerhouse” has made it clear that he is ready for a political brawl with anyone who crosses his path—even a former brother-in-arms.