The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asserted that Governor Seyi Makinde lacks the authority to criticize President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for abolishing the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as fuel.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the APC emphasized that Makinde stands out as the sole governor openly denouncing Tinubu for his decision regarding the fuel subsidy.

Wasiu Olawale Sadare, the Publicity Secretary of the APC, highlighted that Makinde refrained from criticizing former President Muhammadu Buhari during his tenure.

Sadare further noted that Makinde attempted to exploit the recent labor protest to shift blame for the country’s economic woes solely onto the federal government, urging the governor to focus on addressing the state’s challenges instead of targeting Tinubu.

Sadare remarked, “Makinde has increasingly resorted to misleading the public and scapegoating others for his administration’s shortcomings. Interestingly, the PDP-dominated State House of Assembly echoed the same sentiments on the same day, suggesting a coordinated effort by the governor.

“Governor Makinde holds the dubious distinction of being the only governor in Nigeria who consistently blames the incumbent President for his administration’s failure to deliver progress in the state. Out of all 36 governors, the Oyo State governor was the lone critic of President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidy, labeling it as untimely and poorly considered. This aligns with his approach toward former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2019 and 2023, during which he distanced himself from Aso Villa due to personal ego, depriving the Pacesetter state of numerous opportunities over four years.

“During the recent labor protest, Makinde attempted to shift the entirety of the blame for the nation’s economic downturn onto the federal government, disregarding the significant role that governors like him play in exacerbating the situation. Why castigate President Tinubu for halting extravagant spending on fuel subsidy when this decision has led to increased allocations for Oyo State over the past nine months, albeit with little tangible progress?

“Since May last year, the Oyo State government has received over N207 billion in allocations from Abuja, excluding the substantial sums allocated to the 33 local government councils, which the governor has redirected. Instead of utilizing these substantial funds to foster economic growth, Governor Makinde has continued to accrue more debt through loans, grants, internal revenue generation, and the unauthorized sale of government assets, all without proper accountability. So, who will address the issues of hunger, poverty, and unemployment in Oyo State when the governor consistently engages in reckless spending, capital flight, and misplaced priorities?”