Tinubu Didn’t Give Me ₦50 Billion For Ibadan Airport – Makinde Replies Wike

The Governor of Oyo State and 2027 presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has denied claims that he got ₦50 billion from President Bola Tinubu for the upgrade of the Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan.

Naija News reports that Makinde made the denial on Tuesday while speaking at the North West Town Hall meeting in Katsina State.

According to him, the claim is false, and the Ibadan airport upgrade is being fully funded by the Oyo State Government.

“My attention was called to an interview granted yesterday by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, where he said that the President gave N50 billion to Oyo State or to me to upgrade the airport in Ibadan to international standard.

“I want to say that claim is false. The President did not give me or Oyo State N50 billion to upgrade the Ibadan Airport. The Ibadan Airport upgrade project is being undertaken 100 per cent with the funds of Oyo State,” he said.

Makinde’s declaration follows an earlier claim on Monday by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, that President Tinubu supported the Oyo State Government with ₦50 billion for the airport project.

Meanwhile, a group of traditional rulers in Ibadan, including Mogajis, has denied reports that they endorsed Governor Seyi Makinde for the 2027 presidency and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi.

The traditional leaders maintained that they are fathers to all and have not endorsed any candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.

Naija News reports that the Mogajis made their stance known in a joint statement by the President of Ibadan Mogajis, Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori, and the Coordinator of Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative (ICPI), Mogaji Dr Nurudeen Akinade.

The clarification follows a viral video that had surfaced on social media, purportedly claiming that the Ibadan Mogajis had endorsed Makinde for President and Adekanmbi for Governor of Oyo State.

However, the statement denied the claims, adding that they stand by the position of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Ladoja, in being apolitical.

Their statement followed a meeting of the Association of Mogajis in Ibadanland held on Saturday at the old Olubadan Palace, Ojaba. The traditional leaders maintained that the office of Mogaji should not be subjected to partisan politics, stressing that Mogajis in Ibadanland are expected to be fathers to all.