Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has accused Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of repositioning himself as an “emergency opposition mouthpiece” following what he described as a cold reception from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a recent visit to the Presidential Villa.
Fayose alleged that Makinde’s recent criticism of President Tinubu, made at the birthday celebration of former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, stemmed from frustration over an unsuccessful attempt to mend fences with the President.
According to Fayose, Makinde’s remarks at the event confirmed that he was not warmly received during his last visit to the Villa.
In a statement dated Sunday, Fayose alleged that Makinde’s recent critical remarks against President Tinubu, made at the birthday event of former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, were borne out of frustration after an unsuccessful attempt at reconciliation with the President.
“That Seyi Makinde’s derogatory comment against President Tinubu at Osinbajo’s birthday further confirmed that he got a cold shoulder from the President during his last visit to the Villa,” Fayose said.
He claimed that Makinde had earlier sought to manage the fallout from his public comments against the President but was allegedly disappointed by the outcome of his visit.
“In his attempt to do damage control on his public speech against the President, Makinde met the shock of his political life when he visited Asiwaju last week,” he stated.
According to Fayose, the encounter marked the end of any reconciliation between the two leaders, especially ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“It is now obvious that after getting that cold shoulder from the President, Makinde must have realized that the end of the road has come in terms of reconciliation between him and the President,” Fayose said.
He further alleged that President Tinubu had made his political position on Oyo State clear.
“As far as Oyo State is concerned, the President made it clear that he will support his party’s candidates in 2027,” Fayose claimed.
The former Ekiti governor also questioned Makinde’s future within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), suggesting that the party may no longer be a viable platform for him.
“If Makinde had gotten the soft landing he expected from the President, he wouldn’t have gone out to condemn the government of President Tinubu,” he said.
“The APC in Oyo State should wake up and slug it out with Makinde’s candidate, which he will field under the ADC, knowing fully well that the PDP won’t be open for him to use,” Fayose added.