Makinde: Tinubu Failed to Honour 2023 Agreement on Unity Government

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has accused President Bola Tinubu of failing to honour a written agreement to form a government of national unity after the 2023 presidential election.

Makinde said the alleged breach had affected his willingness to work with the President again, adding that he still had a copy of the document he said was signed before the election.

The governor disclosed this in an interview with ARISE News anchor, Ojy Okpe, aired on Friday, while explaining his decision to support Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, despite belonging to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

“I still have the agreement with us,” Makinde said.

He accused Tinubu of failing to fulfil the commitment after assuming office.

“I’ve had a certain experience with him, you know, where agreement was signed. And he didn’t keep to it,” he said.

Makinde challenged those questioning his political position to assess whether the alleged agreement had produced the national unity arrangement that informed his support for Tinubu.

“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 said his decision to support Tinubu in 2023 was not motivated by their shared Yoruba ethnic background but by the expectation that the proposed government would accommodate different political interests and promote national inclusion.

He also described the decision as a political risk in Oyo State, saying he was uncertain how voters would react to his support for a presidential candidate from another party while seeking re-election.

Makinde said his backing of Tinubu was not based on any assurance that it would improve his chances of retaining his governorship seat.

Asked whether he would consider working with Tinubu again ahead of the 2027 general election, the governor contrasted his experience with the President with his dealings with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

“I’ve not had that issue with him before, with Atiku Abubakar, or H.E. Peter Obi,” he said.

His remarks suggested that his reservations about renewed cooperation with Tinubu were rooted in what he described as a breach of trust rather than an unwillingness to work with politicians across party lines.

Makinde also advocated a broader opposition arrangement ahead of the 2027 general election, arguing that any alliance should be driven by Nigeria’s interests rather than the personal ambitions of individual politicians.

He indicated that consultations among opposition figures were ongoing but did not announce a final agreement or identify a settled political platform.

However, Makinde did not disclose the full contents of the alleged agreement during the interview, including the identities of all its signatories or the specific arrangements proposed under the government of national unity.

The document was also not independently examined during the interview.

Neither the Presidency nor Tinubu had responded to Makinde’s allegations as of the time of filing this report.

By Oluwafemi Shodipe

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