- Safiu Kehinde
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has debunked claim by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, that President Bola Tinubu donated N50 billion for the Ibadan Airport upgrade project.
Wike had reportedly made the claim during an interview on TVC’s Journalists Hangout on Monday.
Reacting to alleged sideline of Makinde by Tinubu despite being part of the Peoples Democratic Party’s G5 Governors who supported his presidential ambition in 2023, Wike claimed that he was directly involved in discussions concerning Makinde’s interests and had interfaced with the president alongside other former governors.
According to the FCT Minister, Tinubu supported Makinde with a financial intervention of about N50 billion for the Ibadan airport upgrade which he said was considered because of the governor’s support for Tinubu.
“If the president had any ulterior motive, or had anything against my brother (Seyi Makinde), Mr. President wouldn’t have, as a matter of fact, offered to give that assistance,” Wike said.
‘My attention was caught to an interview granted yesterday by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
‘He said that the President gave N50 billion to Oyo state or to me to upgrade the airport in Ibadan to international standard.
‘I want to say that the claim is false. The President did not give N50 billion to me or to Oyo state to upgrade Ibadan airport.’ Makinde said.
The Oyo governor maintained that the project was 100 percent funded by the state.
‘Ibadan airport upgrade project was undertaken 100 percent with the money of Oyo state. We are here to bring the message of reset Nigeria to the Northwest corner of Nigeria.’ He added.
