Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has dismissed claims by Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, as a “blatant lie”.
The relationship between the two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders has been tense since the conclusion of the 2023 presidential election.
Before the 2023 poll, Wike and Makinde were members of the G5 PDP governors who refused to support Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid.
The feud escalated when Makinde alleged that Wike told President Bola Tinubu he would “hold PDP” for him ahead of the 2027 election.
Makinde recounted the alleged discussion during a media chat at the Government House in Ibadan last Tuesday.
“I was in a meeting with the President and Wike and a few others, and Wike said to the President that I will hold PDP for you against 2027; I was in shock,” Makinde said.
“So, we got up, and I asked Wike, did we agree to this?.”
Makinde concluded that he would not support President Tinubu’s re-election, citing concerns about the survival of democracy.
Commenting on Monday during his end-of-year media chat in Rivers State, Wike rejected the Oyo governor’s account.
“That’s a blatant lie,” Wike said.
“That is why you see Seyi Makinde has never called me Wike again. That is the first time he called me Wike.”
Wike questioned the validity of Makinde’s claim and why he had not informed PDP leadership about the alleged statement.
“First of all, let us ask: what was the purpose of that meeting? Why did Makinde not come out to tell the party that this is what Wike said?” he asked.
“There was no such meeting, what was the purpose of that meeting that would have led me to say, ‘Mr. President, I will hold PDP for you’?
“Why did Makinde not come up all this while to tell the party, ‘See what Wike is doing’? I was in a meeting and see what Wike said. It’s not correct.”
Wike stated that the meeting included himself, former governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, former governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Makinde.
“That is so unfair to say that I said that (I will hold PDP down for you). If you look at that media chat, you will see that Makinde was frustrated,” he added.
The FCT minister criticised Makinde’s political approach, suggesting the Oyo governor lacked understanding of party dynamics.
“We have advised him several times. Politics is not like being a contractor with Shell. It has different rules,” Wike said.