The Oyo State Government has criticised the Federal Government for excluding Governor Seyi Makinde from the flag-off ceremony of the dualisation of the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road.
The ceremony was held on Monday at Idi Ayunre in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Reacting to the development, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, described the governor’s exclusion as politically motivated.
Oyelade said the decision to leave Makinde out of the event amounted to “taking politics too far.”
He noted that the ceremony was attended by Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; the APC governorship candidate, Sarafadeen Alli; and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
According to the commissioner, the event was expected to be a significant infrastructure milestone but was allegedly overshadowed by political considerations.
He said, “The deliberate exclusion of Governor Makinde from the dualisation of the road is taking politics too far.”
Oyelade also faulted the explanation that Makinde was not invited because he was on leave, noting that an Acting Governor was in place to perform the functions of the office.
He described the justification as “even more ridiculous,” arguing that the governor’s absence from the state did not prevent the state government from being represented at the event.
The commissioner, however, said Makinde remained unperturbed by the development, adding that the governor regretted what he described as the politicisation of the ceremony.
“Governor Seyi Makinde is unperturbed and regrets that the event was reduced to a political jamboree,” he said.
Oyelade maintained that the development would not affect the political future of the state, declaring that the people would ultimately determine the outcome of the 2027 elections.
“The course of 2027 is set, and no level of indecorum or desperation from whatever quarters will hold back the will of the people,” the commissioner added.
The statement was signed by Oyelade on behalf of the Oyo State Government on Monday, August 24, 2026.
