By Kolawole Ojebisi
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has cautioned those pushing presidential agenda on his behalf for the next election season in 2027 to desist from doing so.
Makinde noted that it’s too premature for him to project such agenda or for others to derive vicarious pleasure from doing so. The governor stated that he would personally announce any such intentions if they arise.
His remarks followed speculation that he may be planning to stage for a possible push for the presidency in 2027 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor spoke at the Fashola Agribusiness Hub in Oyo town with PDP correspondents on Saturday after their three-day retreat in the state.
He noted that he was not pressed to make the giant strides and remarkable feats that are now the hallmarks of his administration because of possible presidential ambition.
“We didn’t do this because somebody has a presidential ambition,” he said.
“But I am old enough, and if I want to do something, I will come out and say, ‘This is what I want to do.’ Nobody can push my agenda.”
Reflecting on his political journey, Makinde noted that he was dubbed a political neophyte who ought to be learning the ropes when he signalled interest in highest political seat in the pacesetter state in 2019.
He added that he became the butt of ridicule of career politicans who saw him as a greenhorn who thought politics was child’s play and questioned his political credentials and antecedents.
The governor emphasized that the people gave him his mandate and not a godfather.
“Oyo state people took a decision in 2019. We did not have a godfather. Nobody sponsored me, and nobody gave me a dime for us to get in here, but the people of Oyo state decided we wanted to give this opportunity to an outsider,”
“And before that, you will see videos saying that, Oh, Seyi, what has he done before? Has he been a councillor? No. Has he been to the house of representatives? No. What about the senate? I tried twice but was rejected.
“So, experience in politics – No experience in governance, but I’ve done well for myself in business, and they said we’ll give you the opportunity. Before that time, the whole of the south-west was APC, consisting of six states.
“But in Oyo state, we chose to be different. Because I had no experience, I wanted to convince the people.” the governor said.
The governor urged Nigerians to extend the opportunity to perform to qualified candidates from other political parties and cautioned against the country sliding into a one-party state.
Makinde emphasized the need for strong institutions that guarantee good governance, regardless of the administration in power, and encouraged journalists to continue shaping public opinion based on the state’s developmental strides.
He said: “Oyo people made a decision in 2019 without any godfather backing. We came in with no experience in governance, but we’ve made progress. The one takeaway from this is that Nigeria must not slide into a one-party state.”
