A public war of words has erupted between aides of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, following comments about the personal wealth and career achievements of both political leaders.
The latest exchange began after Governor Makinde told journalists in Ibadan that his company, Makon Engineering, earned its first $1 million from a Mobil contract in 1997, when he was 29 years old. He added that the milestone came around the same period Wike had just completed law school.
Reacting on Wednesday, Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, mocked the claim in a Facebook post. He shared an old photograph of Makinde and questioned how a businessman who allegedly made such earnings was still living modestly many years later.
Olayinka sarcastically challenged the governor to teach Nigerians how to secure a $1 million contract and make an equivalent profit from it, suggesting inconsistencies between Makinde’s claims and his lifestyle at the time.
The comments drew a swift response from Makinde’s Special Adviser on Federal Constituency Matters, Dare Adeleke, who described Olayinka’s remarks as disrespectful and misleading.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Adeleke defended the governor’s financial history, insisting that Makinde was already wealthy long before entering politics. He said the governor’s simple lifestyle and modest dressing had often been wrongly interpreted as a sign of limited means.
According to Adeleke, Makinde handled major oil and gas contracts across Nigeria and West Africa, built properties in Lagos and the United States, and supported community development initiatives well before seeking public office.
“Governor Makinde’s humility is often misunderstood,” Adeleke said. “He does not flaunt wealth, and that has been consistent throughout his life, both in business and in politics.”
The exchange intensified when Olayinka, in another social media post, claimed that Makinde lived in a modest apartment in Ikolaba, Ibadan, several years after the alleged $1 million contract, arguing that this did not align with the governor’s claims of early financial success.
Responding, Adeleke clarified that the Ikolaba property belongs to Makinde’s mother and not the governor himself. He added that Makinde owns residences in Victoria Garden City, Lagos, and Houston, Texas.
Adeleke also dismissed Olayinka’s claims as an attempt to distract from more pressing political issues, accusing Wike of working with the ruling party to weaken the opposition.
He contrasted Makinde’s business background with Wike’s early political career, noting that while Makinde was building businesses and infrastructure projects before entering politics, Wike began his public service journey as a local government chairman after leaving law school.
According to Adeleke, the debate should focus on governance and the future of Nigeria’s democracy rather than personal attacks.
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