Wike Blasts Makinde: “Your Problem Is You Were Not Given A Ministerial Slot

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has alleged that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s frustration stems from not being offered a ministerial position by President Bola Tinubu.

Wike made the claim on Monday in Port Harcourt while responding to criticisms from Makinde.

He explained that the G-5 group, which includes himself and former governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), had met with President Tinubu to discuss the matter, and the president promised to take action.

Wike said, “When we agreed on this, Seyi’s problem was that he was not given a ministerial slot. You could see the anger in him even as he expressed it. We told him to calm down.

“That was the reason we went to see the President. He said, ‘There are certain factors I may not have considered; however, something has to be done.’ But Seyi already had it on his mind.

“I also recall when the Rivers Ijaw people organised a reception for me in Port Harcourt. When Ortom said, ‘We are going to support the President for a second term,’ Seyi responded in the newspapers, asking, ‘Why would you say such a thing?’

“I called him and told him that even if Ortom said so, he should not have replied in the newspapers. He should have called a meeting so we could discuss it. By responding that way, it made it appear as though there was a division among us.”

Wike further suggested that Makinde’s early financial success continues to influence his reactions. “Having made $1 million at a young age, he sometimes reacts strongly. He looks back at that figure and forgets that others, like Dangote, also started somewhere—and today, Dangote is Africa’s richest man,” he said.