Oyo State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, APM, Seyi Makinde, has rejected a claim by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that the Federal Government provided N50bn for the upgrade of the Ibadan International Airport.
Wike had made the claim while appearing on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout programme on Monday.
The disagreement comes amid political differences between Makinde and the Tinubu administration, with both sides supporting different political interests ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking at the Makinde/Daura 2027 presidential town hall meeting in Katsina on Tuesday, Makinde said the Oyo State Government had not received N50bn from the Federal Government for the airport project.
He said the upgrade was being funded entirely by the state government.
Makinde described Wike’s claim as false and said the Federal Government did not provide him or Oyo State with N50bn for the project.
His media aide, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, also rejected the claim, saying there was no N50bn Federal Government approval for the airport upgrade.
Olanrewaju said the President’s response to the proposal submitted by Makinde for the reconstruction and upgrade of the airport stated that the project was approved “at no cost to the Federal Government.”
He said the relevant records were available to both the Presidency and the Oyo State Government.
According to Olanrewaju, the project has so far been financed by Oyo State and includes the expansion and strengthening of the runway, improvements to airfield lighting and navigation systems, apron upgrades, aviation safety installations and the dualisation of the Airport Road.
He added that work was also ongoing on a modern international terminal intended to increase passenger and cargo capacity.
Olanrewaju said the claim of N50bn Federal Government funding was not supported by official documentation or a Federal Executive Council decision.
Makinde calls for mining devolution
Speaking at the Katsina town hall, Makinde also advocated for greater involvement of state governments in the mining sector.
He called for mining responsibilities to be moved from the Exclusive Legislative List to the states, while the Federal Government retains an oversight role.
Makinde argued that allowing states greater responsibility for mining would improve the management and development of the sector.
He also outlined his proposed “Reset Agenda,” which he said would focus on the economy, education and national security.
The governor said Nigeria needed to develop its human capacity alongside its natural resources and called for an economy that operates continuously rather than shutting down in the evening.
On education, he said his administration would focus on determining the number of out-of-school children and developing measures to return them to school.
He also cited insecurity and the loss of lives as areas requiring a new approach.
Makinde raises issue of presidential power transmission
Makinde also said his 2027 campaign would focus on policy issues and questioned President Bola Tinubu’s decision to proceed on working leave without, according to him, transmitting power.
He referred to Section 145 of the Constitution, which provides for a President to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to perform the functions of office.
Makinde said he had complied with a similar requirement as governor by transmitting power to his deputy when travelling outside the country for more than 21 days.
He promised that if elected president, he would follow the constitutional provision and transmit power to the Vice President whenever he was unavailable.
Makinde urged Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, and support his proposed Reset Agenda.
He also announced plans to continue his campaign consultations across the North-West and other parts of the country ahead of the 2027 election.
APM outlines its campaign position
The APM vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, said the Katsina meeting was organised to demonstrate support for Makinde and communicate the party’s proposed approach to addressing Nigeria’s challenges.
Daura identified insecurity and poverty as major concerns in the North-West and said the party intended to provide what he described as a reset for the country.
APM National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, said a government led by Makinde would prioritise restoring security and stability.
The Katsina meeting is part of the Makinde/Daura campaign organisation’s planned consultations across Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general election.
The organisation said the consultations would focus on national stability, citizens’ welfare and policy issues, with subsequent meetings planned for Uyo, Lafia and Enugu.
Source: PUNCH
