Makinde Accuses Tinubu of Breaking 2023 Political Agreement

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has accused President Bola Tinubu of failing to honour a written agreement reached before the 2023 presidential election, saying the alleged breach has affected his willingness to work with the President again.

Makinde made the allegation during an interview with ARISE News presenter Ojy Okpe, aired on Friday. He explained that the agreement influenced his decision to support Tinubu, who contested the election under the All Progressives Congress, despite Makinde belonging to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The governor said he still had a copy of the document, which he claimed provided for the formation of a government of national unity after the election.

According to him, his support for Tinubu was based on the expectation that the proposed arrangement would accommodate different political interests and promote national inclusion.

Makinde questioned whether the commitment had been fulfilled, arguing that Nigeria had yet to witness the kind of inclusive government he expected from the agreement.

He also dismissed suggestions that his support for Tinubu in 2023 was motivated by their shared Yoruba background. He maintained that his decision was based on the anticipated national unity arrangement rather than ethnic considerations.

The governor further described his support for Tinubu in Oyo State as a political risk, explaining that he was uncertain how voters would respond to his backing of a presidential candidate from another party while seeking re-election as governor.

Asked about the possibility of working with Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election, Makinde referred to his dealings with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, saying he had not experienced similar difficulties with them.

His comments suggest that his reservations about another political arrangement with Tinubu stem from what he considers a breach of trust.

Makinde also called for a broader opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that any such partnership should prioritise Nigeria’s interests rather than the personal ambitions of political leaders.

He confirmed that consultations among opposition figures were ongoing but did not disclose any concluded agreement or identify the platform that could emerge from the discussions.

However, the governor did not provide the full contents of the alleged 2023 agreement during the interview. The identities of all its signatories and the specific terms of the proposed arrangement were also not disclosed, while the document was not independently examined.

The Presidency had yet to respond to Makinde’s allegations as of the time of the report.