By Abiola Olawale
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has stirred fresh political controversy by releasing what he describes as the “true story” behind the recent high-stakes meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, at the Aso Rock Villa.
In a scathing statement released on Thursday, January 22, 2026, Fayose alleged that Makinde displayed a “lack of courage” during the visit and was met with a firm political reality check by the President regarding his 2027 ambitions and his ongoing feud with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
In a statement titled, “Untold story of what happened in the Villa during Governor Makinde’s Visit to the President today”, issued on January 21, 2026, and personally signed Fayose, said that Makinde “lacked enough courage to face the President alone,” hence, the reason he went to Aso Rock with governor of Plateau State,Caleb Muftwang.
“First, Governor Seyi Makinde demonstrated that he now lacked enough courage to face the President alone, he had to enlist the support of the Plateau State Governor,” he wrote.
According to Fayose, Tinubu drew a clear line between official state matters and political issues during the meeting.
“The President told him that if it was about official matters regarding Oyo State, he would listen to him. But if it had to do with politics and any claim that it was Wike that angered him to go on TV to accuse him (President) of plotting to turn the country to a one-party state, it is better to, as usual, go on TV to say all he (Makinde) had to say,” Fayose stated.
Fayose claimed that the President firmly told Governor Makinde that he could not “come to the closet on political matters to eat his words while saying another thing to the public.”
He also claimed that President Tinubu made it clear that he was not expecting any political support from the Oyo State governor ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The President told Governor Makinde that he was not expecting any support from him regarding 2027, and that he should also expect that he (President) will support his party,” Fayose said.
Additionally, Fayose quoted President Tinubu as emphasising his continued confidence in the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
“The President made it clear to Makinde that Wike is someone whose support and consistency he (President) can’t deny or wish away. Therefore, if Makinde has issues with Wike, that is between the two of them, I should be left out of it,” Fayose added.
Fayose suggested that the tone of the meeting might explain why Governor Makinde later told journalists that he remained “comfortable in the PDP,” noting that “it’s because of the reality that there’s nothing for him in APC.”
The former Ekiti governor also challenged Makinde to account for federal intervention funds allegedly received following the January 2023 Ibadan explosion.
“After this meeting, shouldn’t Makinde tell the people of Oyo State if he has returned the N30 billion he admitted to have received from the Federal Government as intervention fund for the January 2023 Ibadan explosion?” Fayose queried.
