Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has shed light on his post 2023 election engagements with President Bola Tinubu, disclosing that he told the president frankly, that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, lacked the capacity to organise and strengthen the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State.
Makinde made the disclosure during a media chat on Tuesday in Ibadan, where he spoke on ministerial nominations, party politics and federal support for key infrastructure projects in the state.
The governor explained that his interaction with the president began shortly after the formation of the federal cabinet, when Tinubu asked Oyo State to nominate a candidate for ministerial appointment, with a preference for a professional.
“When the president said we should nominate a person who will be a minister, I said, ‘Sir, what do you have for us?’” Makinde said.
According to him, the president indicated interest in appointing a developmental economist as Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, prompting the Oyo State Government to forward a suitable nominee.
“I sent someone who is from Oyo State, and somebody else was chosen. He was not taken to the budget and economic planning; he was made minister of power,” the governor stated.
Makinde said the matter resurfaced during a later visit to the president to seek approval for the upgrade of the Ibadan Airport to international standards, when Tinubu raised concerns that the governor was displeased over the ministerial selection.
“Later, when I went to seek approval for the upgrade of Ibadan airport, he said he heard I was angry that my ministerial nominee was not chosen,” Makinde recalled.
He, however, dismissed the claim, stressing that the appointment of ministers is the exclusive prerogative of the president.
“I told him you can choose who you want for a member of your cabinet; we can only support you,” he said.
Makinde noted that the discussion later shifted to party politics in Oyo State, where he was asked about the capacity of the Minister of Power to organise the APC in the state.
According to the governor, he did not mince words in his response.
“I told him that if you want the Minister of Power to help you organise APC in Oyo State, then he cannot, because he does not have the capacity,” Makinde said.
He added that President Tinubu then made a direct request for him to take up the responsibility of organising the APC structure in the state.
“He said no, it’s me that he wants to help him organise APC in Oyo State,” the governor revealed.
Makinde said he declined the request outright, citing party loyalty and political principle.
“I told him no. I cannot help you because I am of the PDP,” he said.