Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made about N50 billion available as financial support for Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, in the aftermath of Makinde’s support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election.

Wike made the disclosure on Monday during an appearance on TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout, while responding to questions about whether President Tinubu had adequately reciprocated the support he received from Makinde and other members of the then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5.

According to Wike, he was directly involved in discussions concerning the interests of Makinde and other members of the G5, and said the Tinubu administration had offered substantial support to the Oyo governor.

“If the president had any ulterior motive, or had anything against my brother, Seyi Makinde, Mr President wouldn’t have, as a matter of fact, offered to give that assistance,” Wike said.

“Indeed, we’re working with some N50 billion. Mr President, consider that this is one of the persons who supported me. And this is what you want. And it’s available for me to provide.”

The disclosure has drawn attention because Makinde had previously said President Tinubu approved the upgrade of the Ibadan Airport after a meeting between the two men. Makinde had disclosed that he approached Tinubu for approval to upgrade the airport, to which the President reportedly gave his approval.

Makinde had earlier said the President gave his approval for the airport upgrade and that the project would proceed without cost to the Federal Government. The governor subsequently announced the award of the airport upgrade contract to Craneburg Construction at a reported cost of about N41 billion.

Wike’s latest disclosure comes amid renewed political disagreements between the minister and the Oyo governor, particularly over the political relationship between Makinde and the Tinubu administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike also rejected the suggestion that Tinubu deliberately withheld support from Makinde because of political disagreements, arguing that the President had made efforts to assist the Oyo governor. He further dismissed the absence of a ministerial appointment for Makinde’s preferred nominee as evidence that Tinubu had failed to reciprocate the governor’s political support.Makinde supported Tinubu’s presidential bid in the 2023 election despite remaining a member of the PDP, while Wike and the other members of the G5 also backed Tinubu against their party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Wike’s disclosure is therefore likely to intensify scrutiny of the financial arrangements surrounding major projects and federal interventions involving the Oyo State Government, particularly the upgrade of the Ibadan Airport.