The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has explained that the friction between him and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde began after Makinde was denied a ministerial slot in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking during a media briefing on Monday, Wike offered insights into the ongoing tensions within the G5 group, a coalition of former and serving governors who collaborated during the 2023 elections.
Wike said the disagreement arose when Makinde’s nominee failed to secure a ministerial position despite earlier expectations.
“The issue we are dealing with today is that he was not given any ministerial slot,” Wike stated. “Even when he was expressing his frustration, his anger was evident. He didn’t need to explain; we could see it. We told him, ‘calm down.’”
Efforts were reportedly made to pacify Makinde and clarify the reasons behind the appointments, including visits to President Tinubu.
“We went back and explained why we met the President. We advised him to take it easy, noting that there were factors he might not have considered. Still, something had to be done,” Wike said.
Despite these attempts, Wike noted that Makinde seemed to have “already made up his mind,” making reconciliation difficult.
Recalling a previous encounter, Wike said it reflected Makinde’s temperament. “During a reception held by the Rivers State Government for me, former Governor of Benue State Samuel Ortom spoke about supporting the President for a second term,” Wike said.
“But the next day, Seyi Makinde questioned Ortom’s statement. I called him and said he didn’t need to go that far. He could have simply said, ‘Let’s call a day; it’s too early for that kind of statement.’”
Wike likened Makinde’s reactions to someone who achieves success too quickly and becomes impatient. “Sometimes when you make your first million dollars, you react too early. You forget that Dangote didn’t become Africa’s richest man overnight, but today he is,” he added.
