Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has accused President Bola Tinubu of failing to honour a written agreement reached ahead of the 2023 general election to establish a government of national unity.
Makinde said the alleged breach of the agreement had weakened his confidence in the President and could influence his decision on whether to work with him ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor made the allegations during an interview with ARISE News anchor, Ojy Okpe, aired on Friday.
He explained that his decision to support Tinubu, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, despite being a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, was based on the understanding that an inclusive government would be formed after the election.
Makinde insisted that the agreement was documented and that he still had a copy.
“I still have the agreement with us,” he said.
He alleged that Tinubu failed to fulfil the terms of the arrangement after becoming President.
“I’ve had a certain experience with him, you know, where agreement was signed. And he didn’t keep to it,” the governor stated.
Questioning the outcome of the alleged agreement, Makinde challenged Nigerians to assess whether the promised government of national unity had become a reality.
“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.
The governor clarified that his support for Tinubu was not influenced by their shared Yoruba ethnic background but by his expectation that the proposed arrangement would promote political inclusion and national interest.
He also described his decision to back the APC candidate in Oyo State as a political gamble, noting that he was unsure how voters would respond to his support for a presidential candidate from another party while seeking re-election as governor.
On the possibility of renewed political cooperation with Tinubu ahead of 2027, Makinde referred to his interactions with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying he had not experienced similar difficulties with them.
“I’ve not had that issue with him before, with Atiku Abubakar, or H.E. Peter Obi,” he said.
Makinde also called for a broad opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 general election, arguing that any political arrangement should prioritise Nigeria’s interests rather than the ambitions of individual politicians.
He confirmed that discussions among opposition figures were ongoing but gave no details of a final agreement or the political platform that could emerge from the consultations.
However, the governor did not reveal the full terms of the alleged 2023 agreement or provide details of all those who signed it.
The document was not independently verified during the interview.
As of the time of the report, neither Tinubu nor the Presidency had publicly responded to Makinde’s allegations.
