Makinde, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, also spoke on the deepening rift within the party, accusing Wike of working against its survival ahead of the 2027 general election.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has taken a swipe at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, recalling how he made his first one million dollars as a businessman in 1997, around the same time Wike had “just left law school.”
Makinde made the remarks during a media chat with journalists on Tuesday, which was monitored by SaharaReporters on YouTube.
Recounting his early business success, the governor said, “The exact first contract that Mobil gave to Makon (Seyi Makinde’s company), I was 29, it was 1 $1 million. Within that one year, I made $1 million in my pocket. I was 29.”
He added, “1997, Wike perhaps at that time just left law school. And then his next job after that was local government chairman.”
Makinde, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, also spoke on the deepening rift within the party, accusing Wike of working against its survival ahead of the 2027 general election.
“I was in a meeting with the President and Wike, and Wike said to the President, ‘Sir, I will hold PDP for you against 2027.’ I was in shock,” Makinde said.
According to the Oyo governor, the comment was not discussed or agreed upon beforehand, prompting him to immediately confront Wike after the meeting.
“We got to the veranda and I asked him, ‘Wike, did we agree to this?’ I don’t like talking about people, but I will talk about the real issue,” he stated.
“Wike can support the president in 2027, but I will not,” the governor said.
The governor said he made his position clear to President Bola Tinubu during the meeting, stressing his loyalty to the PDP.
“I said, no, sir, I can never help you organise the APC in Oyo State because I am of the PDP,” he explained.
Makinde said the crux of the disagreement was Wike’s open support for President Tinubu’s 2027 ambition, which he insisted should not be imposed on others within the party.
“The real issue is that Wike would like to support the President for 2027. That’s fine; it is within his rights. But some of us want to ensure that democracy survives in Nigeria, and that PDP survives as well. He should allow us to make our own choices,” he said.
He further disclosed attempts to resolve the disagreement privately before confronting Wike.
“I tried to engage him through a mutual friend, but when he did not back off, I confronted him directly. From that day, I made it clear I would never be part of this. Wike can support him, but it is also within my right to decide who I will support or what I will do in 2027. This explains the current conflict within the PDP,” Makinde said.
Reiterating his stance, the governor added, “It is within his right to do that. But also, it is within my own right to decide within the political space who I will support or what I will do in 2027.”