N50bn airport fund: ‘I got nothing from Tinubu’ — Makinde fires back at Wike

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Governor Seyi Makinde

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By Luminous Jannamike

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Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has dismissed as false a claim by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that the Federal Government gave Oyo State N50 billion for the upgrade of the Ladoke Akintola International Airport, Ibadan.

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Makinde said the airport project was being funded entirely by Oyo State, directly contradicting Wike’s claim that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration supported the state with N50 billion for the upgrade.

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Speaking at the Makinde/Daura 2027 Presidential Town Hall meeting in Katsina on Tuesday, Makinde said his attention was drawn to Wike’s comments during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout programme on Monday.

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“I want to say that claim is false,” Makinde said. “The President did not give me or Oyo State N50 billion to upgrade the Ibadan Airport. The Ibadan Airport upgrade project is being undertaken 100 per cent with the funds of Oyo State.”

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Wike had claimed during the television programme that the Tinubu administration supported the Oyo State Government with N50 billion for the airport project.

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Makinde, however, said he decided to address the claim before proceeding with other issues at the Northwest consultative meeting.

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“But before I go into a few things, let me start by saying that my attention was drawn to an interview granted yesterday by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, where he said that the President gave N50 billion to Oyo State to upgrade the Ibadan Airport to international standards,” he said.

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The governor said the Katsina meeting was part of the Northwest consultative engagement, during which he met with the presidential candidate and stakeholders and listened to their concerns.

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“We are here at the Northwest Consultative Meeting. We met with our candidate, stakeholders, and listened to you,” Makinde said.

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