The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has attributed the decision of the Federal Government not to invite Oyo State Governor and the party’s 2027 presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, to the flag-off of the Ibadan- Ijebu Ode federal road project to the governor’s rising popularity.
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Abubakar Yusuf, said President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were scared that Makinde’s presence at the event would expose the president’s failures.
According to the party, Makinde has done far better than President Tinubu in the last three years, including in the execution of road projects.
“The Tinubu presidency is afraid that with Governor Makinde at the ceremony, reference would have been made to the fact that while Mr President, who is from the South West, cannot comfortably boast of initiating, executing and completing up to 250 kilometers of roads in the entire South West since assumption of office in 2023 despite the huge financial resources at his disposal, Governor Makinde had executed over 360 kilometers of roads in Oyo state alone, with more lined up for commissioning.
“Furthermore, the APC is uneasy over Governor Makinde’s leadership prowess in uniting and galvanising other governors, leaders and stakeholders across the country on major national issues; a situation that would definitely gravitate attention towards him in such an event.
“It is also evident that the fear of Governor Makinde’s popularity could be the reason behind President Tinubu’s absence at the ceremony,” the party argued.
It, however, said Makinde is not disturbed by the incident, adding that the APC and the presidency in January 2027 would determine the preference of millions of Nigerians between Makinde and Tinubu.
