Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Seyi Makinde, has denied a claim by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that President Bola Tinubu gave Oyo State N50 billion to support the upgrade of the Ibadan airport.
Makinde made the clarification on Tuesday during the APM North-West town hall meeting in Katsina, organised as part of the party’s activities ahead of the 2027 general election.
The governor said the claim that the Federal Government provided N50 billion for the airport project was incorrect, insisting that the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport was being financed solely by the Oyo State Government.
Wike had made the claim on Monday during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout. The FCT minister said the funding from Tinubu was meant to support Makinde’s plan to upgrade the airport and argued that this showed he was not the only former member of the G5 governors benefiting from the current administration.
Responding to the statement, Makinde said he was informed about Wike’s comments and decided to clarify the source of funding for the airport project.
He maintained that neither he nor the Oyo State Government received N50 billion from President Tinubu for the airport upgrade. According to him, the state government is responsible for financing the project completely.
Makinde began the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in September 2024, with the project initially estimated at N41 billion.
The domestic terminal was completed in October 2025, while work is still ongoing on the full international terminal. The international section is expected to include facilities for agencies such as Customs and Immigration.
The disagreement over the airport funding comes amid political differences between Makinde and Wike ahead of the 2027 general election.
Wike, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory by President Tinubu in August 2023. He has since openly supported Tinubu’s bid for another term in office.
Makinde and Wike were previously members of the G5 governors, a group of five PDP governors who opposed Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign during the 2023 election following disagreements within the party.
The other members were former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
Wike had also contested the PDP presidential primary in 2022 against Atiku and 12 other aspirants. He received 237 votes, while Atiku secured 371 votes.
Makinde has since moved away from the G5 political arrangement following his differences with Wike, particularly over the FCT minister’s support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Makinde is now contesting the 2027 presidential election under the APM.