The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, dismissed the alleged 2027 presidential ambition of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, while also denying a close friendship with the Oyo governor, insisting that their relationship was merely political and not personal.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Wike said his recent disagreement with Makinde had nothing to do with political rivalry but with the need to uphold party discipline within the Peoples Democratic Party, the Punch Newspaper reports.
Reacting to speculations that his recent fallout with the Oyo governor was linked to Makinde’s alleged presidential ambition, Wike laughed off the claims.
“What’s that? We are talking about a breath of fresh air, you are talking about crap. What do you mean by not being happy for him to be a presidential candidate? Let us not trivialise this,” he said.
He added that leadership aspiration should not be treated lightly, warning against desperation within the Peoples Democratic Party.
“No, please, don’t get me wrong. It’s not about being a PhD holder, an engineer or a lawyer. No, that’s not it. It is not about waking up in the morning and saying I want to be a presidential candidate. No.
“Some people just want to run and at the end of the day become the leader of the party. Assuming you really want to be a presidential candidate, will you allow your party to have this kind of crisis?
“Which of them has contributed to the PDP more than me, even up till now?” Wike queried.
When asked if his friendship with Makinde had broken down, Wike remarked: “What do you mean by friends? No, he was my colleague. We belong to the same political party, not friendship. We are all political associates. And there is no law that says political associates must remain together.”
When asked why he fell out with Makinde, the former Rivers State governor said, “It is on the issue of keeping the PDP, obeying the rules of law and allowing the party to be what it’s supposed to be.”
Addressing claims that he betrayed Makinde and other G-5 governors, Wike said he remained loyal and had even cautioned Makinde on his handling of party matters.
“When his senior brother died, I went with ex-Governor Ortom, Ugwuanyi of Enugu, and the former governor of Abia and Senator Ohuabunwa to pay him a condolence visit. I told him, ‘Seyi, the way you are going, you will destroy the party.
“The way you are going, it will not help us.’ You’re my friend and my brother. Calm down. Take it easy. Look at the crisis now. What do you want me to do? I have never, and cannot, betray anybody.
“Nobody can tell me that. He has also not told me he was running for President, though,” he added.
Wike, who has remained a dominant voice in the PDP since the 2023 elections, said discussions about 2027 were premature.
“Well, let us get to convention first now. We are still trying to see how we can elect a National Working Committee before we can talk about the National Convention,” he said.
The strained relationship between Wike and Makinde marks another crack in the PDP fold as the party continues to struggle with internal cohesion following its defeat in the 2023 general elections.
