Wike: We gave Makinde PDP structure to become gov despite his $1m earnings

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says he played a major role in helping Governor Seyi Makinde emerge as Oyo State governor in 2019.

Speaking during an end-of-year media chat in Port Harcourt on Monday, Wike said Makinde only secured the governorship after he and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders agreed to hand over the party structure in Oyo State to him.

Wike also reacted to Makinde’s previous remarks about earning $1 million while in law school, saying the Oyo governor did not support his (Wike’s) bid during the PDP presidential primary.

According to him, despite Makinde’s claims about wealth, he relied on party leaders to help him gain political footing.

Wike recalled that Makinde once left the PDP to contest on the SDP platform after the party structure was initially given to another aspirant, Teslim Folarin, but lost the election.

He added that Makinde returned ahead of the 2019 polls, when PDP leaders eventually backed him.

Wike maintained that it was this support that paved the way for Makinde’s victory in the 2019 governorship election.

The former Rivers State governor noted that his relationship with Makinde has since deteriorated, with both men repeatedly clashing over leadership roles and party reconciliation efforts within the PDP.