Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has given an account of what he described as the “true story” behind Governor Seyi Makinde’s visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.
In a statement issued on January 22, 2026, Fayose claimed that the Oyo State governor did not visit the President alone, alleging that Makinde was accompanied by the Plateau State governor because he lacked the confidence to face the President by himself.
According to him, President Tinubu made it clear to Makinde that he was willing to listen to him only on official matters concerning Oyo State, but would not entertain what he described as political double-speak.
“The President told him that if it was about official matters regarding Oyo State, he would listen,” Fayose said. “But if it had anything to do with politics, especially his public accusation that the President was plotting to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, he should go back to television and say it there.”
Fayose further alleged that President Tinubu warned Makinde against privately retracting statements he had publicly made, insisting that political disagreements should not be handled secretly.
“He was told pointedly that he could not come into the closet on political matters to eat his words while saying another thing to the public,” Fayose stated.
On the 2027 general elections, Fayose claimed the President told Makinde not to expect his support and that, in turn, the President would stand by his own party.
“The President made it clear that he was not expecting any support from Governor Makinde in 2027, and that Makinde should equally expect that he would support his party,” Fayose said.
The former governor also quoted Tinubu as affirming his political relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing him as a loyal and consistent ally.
“He told Makinde that Wike is someone whose support and consistency he cannot deny or wish away,” Fayose added. “If Makinde has issues with Wike, that is between the two of them, and the President should be left out of it.”
Fayose argued that these realities explained why Makinde later told journalists that he remained comfortable in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“That is because there is nothing for him in the APC,” Fayose asserted.
He also raised a fresh question over a ₦30 billion federal intervention fund allegedly received by the Oyo State Government following the January 2023 Ibadan explosion, calling on Makinde to account for the funds.
“After this meeting, shouldn’t Governor Makinde tell the people of Oyo State if he has returned the ₦30bn he admitted to have received from the Federal Government as intervention fund?” Fayose asked.
