Makinde accuses Tinubu of breaching 2023 political agreement

Detailed summary

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has accused President Bola Tinubu of breaching a written agreement to form a government of national unity after the 2023 presidential election,…

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has accused President Bola Tinubu of breaching a written agreement to form a government of national unity after the 2023 presidential election, saying the alleged failure to honour the deal has affected his willingness to work with the President again.

Makinde disclosed that the agreement, which he said was signed before the election, informed his controversial decision to support Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, despite belonging to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

Speaking in an interview aired on Friday with ARISE News anchor, Ojy Okpe, the governor said he still had a copy of the document, insisting that his support for Tinubu was based on an understanding that the administration would accommodate different political interests.

He accused the President of failing to honour the commitment after assuming office.

“I’ve had a certain experience with him, you know, where agreement was signed. And he didn’t keep to it,” he said.

The governor challenged those questioning his political position to assess whether the alleged agreement had delivered the national unity arrangement that informed his decision to support Tinubu.

“Tell us if the agreement was fulfilled. That’s wrong. Tell us if, not in terms of something personal, what has Nigeria got out of this? Are we having a government of national unity right now?” he asked.

Makinde’s disclosure offers an explanation for his decision to back Tinubu in 2023, which put him at odds with sections of his party and attracted criticism over his political allegiance.

He maintained that the decision was not motivated by their shared Yoruba ethnic background but by the expectation that a government of national unity would promote inclusion and serve Nigeria’s interests.

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