Makinde Accuses Tinubu of Running a ‘Bourdillon’ Cabinet

Oyo State Gov. Seyi Makinde has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over what he described as a failure of accountability, saying Nigerians have yet to see the benefits of its economic policies.

Makinde, who is seeking the presidency in 2027 on the Allied Peoples Movement platform, said the government had failed to deliver on promises, including fixing electricity.

“The major issue that we’re faced with, that this current administration seems to be falling short, is one, accountability,” he said in an interview with Arise News.

He questioned the impact of the administration’s economic claims on ordinary Nigerians, asking: “Are Nigerians hungry?

“Are more families able to afford certain things?”

Makinde also accused Tinubu’s government of favouring people close to the president in appointments, describing members of the cabinet as “Bourdillon people.”

He said he had expected Tinubu to form a government of national unity after the 2023 election, following an agreement he said was signed by Lagos Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the president’s behalf and by Makinde for the G5 governors.

Makinde said he still had the agreement but no longer believed Tinubu would implement it.

On his chances in 2027, Makinde said his strategy was based on voting data from the 2019 and 2023 elections, which he believes shows that a candidate can win broad support without a major party structure.

He said the Labour Party received about 6,000 votes in 2019 before Peter Obi joined it and helped the party win more than 6 million votes in 2023.

Makinde also cited the New Nigeria Peoples Party, saying its votes rose from about 6,000 in 2019 to 1.4 million in 2023 after Rabiu Kwankwaso joined the party.

He argued that the results showed ordinary Nigerians could propel a candidate from a relatively small party to national prominence.

“This 2027 election, it is not going to be between APC and APM,” Makinde said.

“It will be the ruling party, APC, versus the people of Nigeria.”

He said he was confident of winning, adding that Nigerians would benefit most from his proposed “reset agenda.”