Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has denied receiving ₦50 billion from President Bola Tinubu for the upgrade of the Ladoke Akintola International Airport in Ibadan. The denial was made during a presidential town hall meeting in Katsina, where Mr Makinde addressed supporters. The claim was initially made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who stated that the Tinubu administration had supported the Oyo State Government with ₦50 billion for the airport project.
According to Mr Makinde, the airport expansion is being funded entirely by the Oyo State Government. He emphasized that the President did not give Oyo State or him ₦50 billion to upgrade the Ibadan Airport. The governor stated that the claim made by Minister Wike was false and that the project is undertaken 100 percent with the funds of Oyo State. This clarification was necessary to set the record straight and avoid misinformation.
During the town hall meeting, Mr Makinde also addressed the controversy surrounding the transmission of presidential powers when the President is away from the country or unable to perform his duties. He referenced Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires the President to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge the functions of office.
Mr Makinde noted that as a state governor, he operates under the same Constitution and has complied with a similar constitutional requirement at the state level whenever he travels on vacation for more than 21 days. He expressed surprise that this is not happening at the national level, particularly with regards to President Tinubu’s current vacation. The governor’s comments come amid controversy over the transmission of presidential powers to Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
The APM candidate promised to follow the Constitution to the letter if elected president in 2027, particularly with regards to transmitting power to the vice president when he is unavailable. He stated that if the President is unable to function due to sickness, a medical trip, or incapacitation, the president should transmit power to the vice president. Mr Makinde pledged to delegate authority to the vice president if he is not available.
Speaking on his presidential campaign, Mr Makinde emphasized that the 2027 election should not be viewed solely as a contest between political parties but as a choice between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigerians. He urged Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate in the election to determine the country’s direction. Mr Makinde maintained that the election would be APC versus Nigerians.
Mr Makinde outlined his proposed administration’s focus areas, including resetting the economy, education, and security architecture. He emphasized the need for an economy that operates around the clock to compete with countries whose economies remain active 24 hours a day. The governor also pledged to review Nigeria’s security architecture and focus on obtaining reliable data on out-of-school children to develop measures to return them to school.
Key points
- Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, denies receiving ₦50 billion from President Bola Tinubu for the Ibadan airport upgrade.
- Makinde promises to transmit power to the vice president if unavailable.
- The governor outlines his administration’s focus on resetting the economy, education, and security architecture.
