Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has claimed that President Bola Tinubu asked him to take ownership of Adebayo Adelabu’s ministerial appointment after declining his recommendation of former Oyo State Commissioner for Finance, Bimbo Adekanmbi.
Speaking during a media chat on Fresh FM in Ibadan, Makinde recounted that the President initially requested a recommendation for a development economist to handle the budget and economic planning portfolio.
In response, Makinde nominated Adekanmbi, citing his key role in stabilizing the administration of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
According to Makinde, the President later indicated he had opted to appoint Adelabu—his rival in the 2019 Oyo governorship race.
“I said, ‘Okay, I know Bayo.’ I contested against Bayo in 2019. He is a first-class material,” Makinde recalled.
“And then the president eventually said, ‘Well, since I’ve taken this decision to appoint Bayo, you should go and take ownership of him, like go out and say it was your choice.'”
Makinde noted that he turned down the suggestion, insisting that the appointment be openly recognized as the President’s personal decision.
“So I said, ‘No, sir. Bayo is your choice, and let it be known to the people that it is your choice,'” he stated. “‘I’m supposed to help you by nominating people who can add value to your administration. If you’ve seen somebody who can do that, that’s good.'”
The governor added that he later realized several other state governors had experienced similar situations regarding presidential nominees.