Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Tuesday dismissed claims of a rift between him and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, saying public discourse should centre on national issues.
Governor Makinde spoke during an interview with Arise News.
When asked about the reported disagreement with Wike, with whom he was aligned in the G5 during the last election, he said discussions should prioritise governance.
He said, “Small minds talk about people. Average minds talk about events. We would rather talk about issues. What’s the issue?”
Makinde also said Nigeria must avoid a one-party system and urged leaders to focus on governance challenges rather than personal conflicts.
“The issue is that we don’t believe in one party Nigeria. We believe that our founding fathers gave us alter party democracy. We must sustain it so that Nigerians can have options when they are choosing their leaders. That is the issue. I don’t want to talk about individuals and I don’t want to talk about events. That’s the issue.”
Makinde’s remarks came hours after a confrontation occurred at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
The clash involved the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) and the faction led by acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, who is supported by Wike.
The situation escalated shortly after Bauchi State Governor and PDP Governors Forum chairperson Bala Mohammed and Makinde arrived at the secretariat at about 10:45 a.m.
The main gates were locked, forcing them to enter the premises without their motorcades.
As the governors and their entourage tried to enter the National Executive Committee (NEC) hall, supporters of one faction fired tear gas.
Security operatives also released tear gas to disperse party members, journalists and others at the scene.
The governors later gained access to the premises with their vehicles.
Wike arrived at about 11:15 a.m. and blocked their motorcade in front of the building.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) in the FCT, Ishiaku Sharu, asked the governors and their group to leave the premises.
Bala Mohammed said they would only leave if Wike and others also left, but the governors later returned to the NEC hall when informed that a meeting was ongoing.
Seyi Makinde and Nyesom Wike have had a long political association. They were part of the G-5 governors in the PDP, a group that oppose certain decisions within the party ahead of the 2023 elections.
Makinde, who once lived in Port Harcourt, has previously about their relationship and saying Wike “has done very well for his people,” while noting that they “different people” with different approaches to issues.
Wike, in recent public statements, has described Makinde as a political associate rather than a personal friend. He has also accused Makinde of undermining key agreements within the PDP and described him as “the architect” of some of the party’s internal problems.
