Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of turning himself into what he described as an “emergency opposition mouthpiece” after allegedly being rebuffed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a recent visit to the Presidential Villa.
Fayose said Makinde’s public criticism of the President was driven by frustration following the encounter.
Fayose, in a strongly worded statement dated January 25, 2026, said Makinde’s remarks against President Tinubu at the birthday celebration of former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo further confirmed that the Oyo governor was unhappy over what he termed a “cold shoulder” from the President. According to Fayose, the development marked the collapse of any hope of political reconciliation between both men.
“That Seyi Makinde’s derogatory comment against President Tinubu at Osinbajo’s birthday further confirmed that he got a cold shoulder from the President during his last visit to the Villa,” Fayose said.
He claimed that Makinde’s visit to President Tinubu was an attempt at damage control following previous comments, but said the outcome was not what the governor anticipated.
“Like I made public, in his attempt to do a damage control on his public speech against the President, Makinde met the shock of his political life when he visited Asiwaju last week,” he stated.
Fayose further alleged that President Tinubu made it clear during the visit that he would support only candidates of his party in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general elections, effectively shutting the door on any form of alliance with Makinde.
“It is now obvious that after getting that cold shoulder from the President, Makinde must have realized that end of road has come in terms of reconciliation between him and the President. This is moreso that the Asiwaju made it clear that as far as Oyo State is concerned, he will support his party’s candidates in 2027,” Fayose said.
The former governor argued that Makinde’s criticism of Tinubu, including describing him as a dictator while praising the previous Buhari administration, was a reaction to the failed rapprochement.
“Furthermore, it has vindicated me because if Makinde had gotten a soft-landing that he expected from the President, he (Makinde) wouldn’t have gone to make that statement, condemning the Government of President Tinubu, by calling the President a dictator while praising the Buhari’s administration,” Fayose added.
Fayose also urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State to brace for a political battle in 2027, claiming Makinde would field a candidate under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would no longer be available for his political ambitions.
“With this assurances too, the APC in Oyo State should now wake up and slug it out with Makinde’s candidate, which he will field under the ADC, knowing full well that PDP won’t be open for him to use,” he said.
