Makinde Faults Tinubu Over Silence During Oyo Abduction

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has criticised President Bola Tinubu over what he described as the President’s failure to contact him during the 56 days that pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State remained in captivity.

Makinde said he expected the President to show concern and reach out to him while the state was dealing with the security crisis, but claimed that Tinubu did not make any contact throughout the period.

The governor made the disclosure during an interview with Arise Television on Friday, where he also spoke about the changing relationship between him and the President ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to Makinde, he personally tried to secure an opportunity to meet Tinubu after the abduction because he believed that a security incident affecting any part of the country should attract the attention of the President.

He said he also attempted to reach the President through the State Chief of Protocol but received no response.

Makinde said the President had still not spoken directly with him, adding that he had continued to concentrate on governing Oyo State rather than complain about the situation.

The governor disclosed that the incident was one of the issues surrounding his relationship with Tinubu, although he suggested that his decision to pursue the presidency in 2027 might also have contributed to the distance between them.

He said he could only speculate that some people might have informed Tinubu that he was considering contesting against him, possibly creating tension between the two politicians.

Makinde recalled that he supported Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election and helped mobilise votes for him in Oyo State.

He also recounted a meeting involving Tinubu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, during which he said he assured the President that he would help maintain the Peoples Democratic Party structure ahead of the 2027 election.

The governor further explained that his political decisions in 2023 did not suggest that he was already preparing to contest for the presidency.

He said he supported Wike during the PDP presidential primary and also turned down an approach from associates of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who reportedly wanted him to join the presidential ticket as running mate.

Makinde said he declined the proposal because he considered his three years as governor and public servant insufficient experience for such a responsibility at the time.

The Oyo governor’s comments come as he prepares to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election under the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement.

The pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area were eventually released after spending 56 days in captivity.

Makinde’s account has brought renewed attention to the relationship between the two politicians, particularly the expectations of cooperation between the Federal Government and state governments when dealing with major security challenges.

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