Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has withdrawn the commemorative honour previously conferred on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in a move that underscores the deepening rift between the two political figures.

 

The honour, bestowed in June 2023, saw the naming of the 8.3-kilometre Phase II Idi-Ape/Akobo-Olorunda Abaa Road in Ibadan after Wike, symbolizing the close alliance between both men at the time.

 

Makinde and Wike were key figures in the G5 group of governors who broke ranks with their party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), during the 2023 general elections. The group notably backed the candidate of the rival All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who went on to win the presidency.

 

However, the political camaraderie that once defined their relationship has since deteriorated. Sources point to internal party struggles, particularly Wike’s perceived dominance within the PDP and Makinde’s resistance, as key factors behind the fallout. The situation was further aggravated after Makinde’s faction reportedly lost an appeal over the party’s leadership at the appellate court to Wike’s camp.

 

In the wake of the strained relationship, the Oyo State Government has now renamed the road previously dedicated to Wike. The route will henceforth be known as Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu Road, marking a symbolic end to the earlier alliance.

 

The development comes amid ongoing efforts by PDP leadership to reconcile its divided factions and restore unity within the party. Political observers say the latest move may further complicate those reconciliation attempts, highlighting the lingering tensions between the two camps.