Oyo State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, Seyi Makinde, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of lying over claims that the Federal Government provided N50 billion for the upgrade of the Ibadan International Airport.
Wike, while appearing on Journalists’ Hangout claimed that the Bola Tinubu administration supported the Oyo State Government with N50 billion for the airport project.
But Makinde, speaking at the Makinde/Daura 2027 presidential town hall meeting in Katsina dismissed the claim, insisting that the project was being funded entirely by the Oyo State Government.
Makinde said, “I want to say that claim is false. The President did not give Oyo State N50 billion or me to upgrade the Ibadan Airport. The Ibadan Airport upgrade project is being undertaken 100 per cent with the funds of Oyo State.
Makinde’s media aide, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, also rejected Wike’s claim, saying there was no N50 billion approval from the Federal Government for the airport project.
Olanrewaju said the approval granted by Tinubu for the airport upgrade specifically stated that the project would be undertaken at no cost to the Federal Government.
He said the Oyo State Government had fully financed the expansion and strengthening of the runway, upgrade of airfield lighting and navigational systems, apron improvements, Airport Road dualisation and other supporting infrastructure.
He added that the ongoing construction of a new international terminal was also being funded by the state government.
Olanrewaju described Wike’s claim as false, reckless and misleading, insisting that the Federal Government did not provide N50 billion for the Ibadan Airport upgrade.
He said the state government would not allow misinformation to be used for political point-scoring or to distort public understanding of the financing of the project.
The dispute comes amid political differences between Makinde and the Tinubu administration ahead of the 2027 general election.
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At the Katsina town hall, Makinde also called for greater devolution of powers to the states, particularly in the mining sector.
He argued that states should have greater responsibility for mining while the Federal Government retains oversight.
The APM presidential candidate also outlined his proposed “Reset Agenda”, focusing on the economy, education and security.
Makinde further criticised the decision by Tinubu to proceed on working leave without transmitting power, citing Section 145 of the Constitution.
He said he would comply with the constitutional requirement to transmit power to his deputy whenever he was unavailable to discharge his duties.
Makinde also urged Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2027 election, saying his campaign would focus on issues affecting Nigerians rather than political parties.
