Dare Babalola
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has narrated how President Bola Tinubu rejected his ministerial nominee for the state.
According to the governor who spoke during a media chat on Tuesday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, President Tinubu had earlier requested that Oyo State nominate a candidate for ministerial appointment, with a specific preference for a professional background.
“When the president said we should nominate a person who will be a minister, I said, ‘Sir, what do you have for us?’
“He said he wants a developmental economist who can be a minister of budget and economic planning,” Makinde stated.
The governor further explained that he complied with the request by recommending a qualified candidate from Oyo State. However, he said the outcome differed from what was initially discussed.
“I sent someone who is from Oyo State, and somebody else was chosen. He was not taken to the budget and economic planning; he was made minister of power,” the governor said.
In addition, he revealed that the issue later resurfaced during his visit to seek presidential approval for the upgrade of the Ibadan airport to international standards, when the president raised concerns about Makinde’s reaction to the ministerial selection.
“Later, when I went to seek approval for the upgrade of Ibadan airport, he said he heard I was angry that my ministerial nominee was not chosen,” Makinde narrated.
The governor stated that he made it clear to the president that he bore no resentment over the cabinet decision, emphasising that the prerogative of appointing ministers rests solely with the president.
“I told him you can choose who you want for a member of your cabinet; we can only support you,” Makinde stated.
