By Luminous Jannamike
ABUJA – The Allied Peoples Movement, APM, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, of deliberately excluding Oyo State Governor and its presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, from the flag-off of the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode federal road project for fear that his presence could overshadow the President.
The party said Makinde’s record in Oyo State, growing popularity and influence among political leaders would have shifted attention at the ceremony and exposed what it described as the Tinubu administration’s poor performance in road construction.
APM’s National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, said the Presidency and APC were uncomfortable with a direct comparison between Tinubu’s performance and that of Makinde.
“The Tinubu presidency and the APC were scared that Makinde’s presence at the event would have further exposed President Tinubu’s failures as the APM presidential candidate has done far better than the President in the last three years, including in the execution of road projects,” Yusuf said.
The party claimed that while Tinubu had not comfortably been able to point to up to 250 kilometres of roads initiated, executed and completed across the South-West since assuming office in 2023, Makinde had delivered more than 360 kilometres of roads in Oyo State alone, with more awaiting commissioning.
APM also said Makinde’s influence goes beyond infrastructure, citing his ability to unite governors, political leaders and other stakeholders around major national issues.
“Furthermore, the APC is uneasy over Governor Makinde’s leadership prowess in uniting and galvanizing other governors, leaders and stakeholders across the country on major national issues; a situation that would definitely gravitate attention towards him in such an event,” Yusuf added.
The party further suggested that the fear of Makinde’s popularity may have contributed to Tinubu’s absence from the ceremony.
“It is also evident that the fear of Governor Makinde’s popularity could be the reason behind President Tinubu’s absence at the ceremony,” the statement said.
Despite the development, APM said it remained focused on the 2027 presidential contest, warning that the ruling party could not avoid Makinde indefinitely.
“In any case, our party and candidate are not perturbed by the incident. The APC and the Tinubu Presidency must note that they cannot run from Governor Makinde forever,” it added.
Yusuf said the final test would come at the January 2027 poll, where the party expressed confidence that Nigerians would choose Makinde as Tinubu’s replacement.
“They must surely meet him at the poll in January 2027 where the Will of millions of Nigerians in preference for Governor Makinde as the replacement for President Tinubu cannot be suppressed,” he said.
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