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Tag: Seyi Makinde

  • Makinde appoints adviser on security

    Makinde appoints adviser on security

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has approved the appointment of Maj.-Gen. Lukman Omoniyi as his Executive Adviser on Security Coordination.

    The appointment, contained in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde, is with immediate effect.

    Congratulating Omoniyi on the appointment, Governor Makinde urged him to ensure effective coordination of security activities in the state with a view to making every part of the state safe and everyone secure.

    READ ALSO: President rallies relief materials to affected Kwara communities

    Gen. Omoniyi is a seasoned senior infantry officer, who has held various command, staff and instructional appointments in military formations and units.

    He holds a Master of Science Degree in Humanitarian and Refugees Studies, in addition to another Master of Science Degree in Strategic Studies, both from the University of Ibadan.

    He is currently working on his Doctoral Degree in Peace, Security and Humanitarian Studies at the University of Ibadan.

  • Makinde vows to inaugurate key projects, build stronger institutions

    Makinde vows to inaugurate key projects, build stronger institutions

    Governor Seyi Makinde has said Oyo State @ 50 celebration would continue over the next one year, with the inauguration of key projects and building of stronger institutions.

    He spoke at the closing ceremony/award night at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.to celebrate the state’s golden jubilee.

    At the event, 74 people from spheres of life such as, governance, public service, philanthropy, business, sports, academia, military/paramilitary, entertainment, banking/finance, judiciary/law, religion and medical sciences were given Oyo State Merit Award for contributing to the development of the state.    

    Governor Makinde said some projects that would transform transportation, logistics and economic growth across Ibadan and beyond, such as upgrade of Ladoke Akintola Airport and 32-kilometre first segment of Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road would be inaugurated before the end of the first quarter.

    He said the surveillance aircraft purchased to fortify security in the state would soon be delivered, adding that modern electric buses would also soon be delivered as part of his administration’s commitment to expanding transport infrastructure and ensuring public transportation remained efficient and affordable for the people.

    Read Also: My team will continue where I stop in 2027, says Makinde

    Makinde said past leaders of the state had made specific and general impact on the state, laying strong foundations, which successive administrations had continued to build on, leading to the state having an advanced public service and an improved education and social development.

    He noted that part of such impact was the free education introduced by former governor Bola Ige, which he (Makinde) benefited from as a student in the state, stressing that his government was also leaving a legacy of delivering long-term, system-driven infrastructure and transport reforms targeted at further expanding the economy of the state.

    The governor, who congratulated the recipients of Oyo State Merit Award, advised the coming generation of Oyo State residents to contribute their quotas to the development of the state, Nigeria and the betterment of the society, noting that such efforts would be duly honoured in future.

    The Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazak, lauded Governor Makinde for reclaiming the former glory of the state through projects.

    Some of the former administrators/governors, including Major-General David Jemibewon (Rtd), the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, who served as the 14th governor of Oyo State; family members of former Governors Bola Ige, Omololu Olunloyo, Alao-Akala and Abiola Ajimobi, who were honoured at the event, as well as recipients of Oyo State Merit Award, congratulated the people of the state, while also hailing the governor on the historic event.

    The event was attended by former Military Administrator of Oyo State, General Oladayo Popoola (Rtd); ex-Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion; former Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau; ex-Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Deacon Emmanuel Udom; wife of Oyo State governor, Tamunomini Makinde; wife of former Oyo State governor, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; deputy governor of the state, Bayo Lawal and a former deputy governor of the state, Hamid Gbadamosi.

    Other are: National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Kabiru Turaki; former Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Bode George and ex-Minister of Trade and Investments, Chief (Mrs) Onikepo Akande.

    The list also include: member representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Fola Oyekunle; member representing Ibadan Kajola/Iseyin/Iwajowa Federal Constituency, Shina Oyedeji; former Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission, Prof Adeolu Akande; members of the PDP National Working Committee; local government chairmen, religious leaders, traditional rulers and service commanders, among others.

  • 2027: Seyi Makinde at the crossroads

    2027: Seyi Makinde at the crossroads

    Amid defections, internal conflict within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and strained relations with Abuja, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde faces significant challenges in Nigeria’s political landscape, writes Deputy Political Editor Raymond Mordi

    Politically homeless

    On January 22, 2026 (penultimate Thursday), at the Aso Rock Villa, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde met privately with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. After the meeting, reporters asked if Makinde intended to defect, given the recent trend of opposition governors joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Makinde responded, “No, I’m comfortable in the PDP,” and emphasised that his visit focused on governance, not party politics. Once a key figure in the G-5 group that influenced the 2023 presidential election, he is now the only opposition governor elected on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform in southern Nigeria and is politically isolated within a divided party.

    With the 2027 general election approaching, Makinde faces internal conflict within the PDP, threats to his political relevance, and pressure to secure his developmental legacy in Oyo State. His situation highlights broader challenges in Nigeria’s democracy, where principle often competes with political survival.

    House divided against itself

    Makinde’s isolation is primarily due to internal PDP conflict rather than APC growth. The party, which held 16 states in 2015, now controls only four: Adamawa, Bauchi, Oyo, and Zamfara. This decline has intensified the personal and ideological dispute between Makinde and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

    The conflict became public in December 2025. In an interview with reporters in Ibadan, Makinde claimed that during a private meeting with President Tinubu, Wike volunteered to “hold the PDP down” for the President’s 2027 re-election. Makinde called this a betrayal of the opposition’s purpose and warned of the risks of a one-party state, stressing the need for bipartisan solutions.

    Wike’s supporters responded by accusing Makinde of disloyalty and self-interest. Lere Olayinka, Wike’s aide, alleged that Makinde has never been loyal to any party or individual and referenced claims that Makinde opposed PDP’s Ademola Adeleke in the 2022 Osun governorship election to maintain his position as the sole PDP governor in the Southwest.

    The dispute escalated into an institutional split when, in November 2025, a Makinde-backed faction held a national convention in Ibadan, expelled Wike from the party, and appointed Taminu Turaki as the new leader of the National Working Committee (NWC). The Wike faction rejected this as an “illegal convention” and maintains a separate structure. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not recognised the Turaki leadership due to ongoing court orders.

    This legal dispute is Makinde’s most immediate challenge. With five court cases pending, including two key appeals, the PDP’s ability to field candidates in 2027 is at risk. INEC has already rejected the Makinde-backed candidate for the June 2026 Ekiti governorship election, setting a concerning precedent for future national elections.

    A senior official in the Turaki-led NWC acknowledged the seriousness of the situation: “With what INEC has done… our chances of having candidates for the 2027 general election are very slim.” As a result, factions are considering contingency plans, and the Makinde bloc is reportedly exploring an alliance with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to support its candidates.

    Read Also: Nigeria on ‘healing journey’ to $1trn economy by 2030 – Presidency

    Calculus of defection

    In this environment, many view Makinde’s refusal to defect as unusual. Since 2025, several PDP governors, including Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), have joined the APC. Motivations include access to federal resources, electoral security, and concerns about the PDP’s decline. The APC now has 29 governors, and Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule has predicted more defections.

    Makinde is now one of only two governors in the Southwest not affiliated with the APC (Osun’s Adeleke has joined the Accord Party). Critics, including former minister Adebayo Shittu, have called him an “ingrate,” claiming his 2023 alignment with Tinubu helped secure his (Makinde’s) re-election. The recent meeting with Tinubu has increased speculation about his political future.

    Makinde frames his position as a commitment to democratic principles, emphasizing the importance of a strong opposition in Nigeria.

     Osun-based activist Comrade Waheed Saka notes that widespread defections to the APC could have long-term adverse effects, describing Makinde’s choice as risky but principled, while acknowledging the PDP’s current weakness.

    Makinde’s decision also reflects strategic considerations. Joining an APC that has seen many recent southern defections could reduce his influence. By remaining in the opposition, he maintains a distinct political identity, which could benefit him if the PDP recovers or if he seeks a national role grounded in principle.

    From rising star to political limbo

    Before the PDP’s current crisis, Makinde was widely regarded as a rising star in Nigerian politics. Alongside Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, he was seen as part of a new generation of governors with technocratic leanings and national ambition.

    That trajectory has since stalled. Uzodimma operates comfortably within the ruling APC. AbdulRazaq has consolidated his regional influence. Makinde, by contrast, appears stranded between a ruling party that does not trust him and an opposition party that cannot organise itself.

    “Once his colleagues began defecting, his bargaining power collapsed,” said a former PDP National Assembly member. “Politics is about blocs. Makinde now leads a bloc of one.”

    Performance versus politics

    In Oyo State, Makinde is focused on delivering results before his tenure ends in 2027. His performance will be evaluated on both political actions and tangible achievements, though some controversies remain.

    At the state’s 50th-anniversary celebrations, Makinde presented a long-term vision focused on economic growth, job creation, and institutional development. He cited his experience with Chief Bola Ige’s free education policy as an influence. His administration’s ‘Omituntun 2.0’ initiative highlights achievements, including the completion of an 11 MW Independent Power Project and securing a $100 million investment in a gas pipeline.

    Key governance achievements

    · Infrastructure development: Completion of phases of the 110 km Ibadan Circular Road, a long-envisioned project to decongest the city.

    · Human capital & welfare: Early implementation of improved salary structures for workers ahead of federal directives.

    · Economic foundations: Commissioning of a gas master plan and attracting private investment into energy infrastructure.

    · Institutional focus: Passage of an Electricity Regulation Commission Bill to create a sub-national electricity market.

    Comrade Saka offers a positive assessment, stating that Makinde has performed well in infrastructure development compared to other governors. “Fundamentally, when you talk about development, Makinde has done well in terms of infrastructure,” he said. “The circular road is a testament to his long-term vision. He has also excelled in human capital development and workers’ remuneration. Even before the Federal Government announced an increase in salaries, he had already committed to paying Oyo workers more.”

    However, he cautions that the state’s financial health will only be clear after Makinde’s tenure ends.

    This caution relates to ongoing allegations affecting Makinde’s legacy. Former Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose has accused Makinde of mismanaging N50 billion in federal relief funds for the 2024 Bodija explosion, a claim Makinde denies, stating only N30 billion was released and properly used. Although unproven, such allegations can affect the reputation of outgoing governors.

    2027 endgame

    With the PDP in disarray, Makinde’s influence is diminishing. His ability to shape succession in Oyo State is at risk. Although he pledged to name a preferred successor by January 2026, he has not done so, mainly due to the party’s instability. Without a functional party structure, selecting a successor is ineffective.

    Makinde’s national ambitions are also limited. Once considered a potential presidential candidate, that opportunity is now closed. His regret over supporting Tinubu in 2023 and his decision not to repeat this have strained relations with the presidency. Within the PDP, his faction remains one side of a deep internal conflict.

    Makinde’s grim scenarios for 2027

    · The PDP fails to resolve its legal issues, INEC does not recognize its candidates, and the party cannot contest effectively in Oyo or nationally. Makinde could become a governor without party support, losing political influence.

    · His bloc formalises an alliance with the ADC or another party. This would allow candidates to contest but would require Makinde to negotiate from a weaker position within a new coalition.

    · A last-minute reconciliation between the Wike and Makinde factions. Even if achieved, trust would remain low, the party’s reputation would be damaged, and Makinde would need to share power with former rivals.

    In Nigeria, outgoing governors often maintain influence by supporting loyal successors. Makinde risks losing political relevance after leaving office. The “strong institutions” he prioritises over “physical infrastructure” have not provided the expected support.

    High cost of standing alone

    Governor Seyi Makinde’s situation reflects broader issues in Nigeria’s democracy. It underscores the lack of clear ideology, the use of parties for personal ambition, and the vulnerability of institutions to legal and personal conflicts. These challenges often distract from effective governance.

    Makinde aims to uphold the principle of strong opposition, even as his party struggles with internal division. In Oyo, he may be remembered for his development achievements. In contrast, nationally, he could be remembered as the last opposition governor to warn against a one-party system, but he was unable to prevent it.

    As 2027 approaches, Seyi Makinde is fighting for both his political future and a vision of Nigerian democracy. The outcome will depend on developments in the coming months. The primary concern is that ongoing political struggles may divert attention from the development work he has promoted. His ultimate challenge will be to ensure his legacy endures despite current political uncertainty.

  • Makinde celebrates Ajetomobi, makes case for impactful leadership

    Makinde celebrates Ajetomobi, makes case for impactful leadership

    Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde has emphasised the importance of impactful leadership, stating that for the nation to move forward or achieve success, leaders must ensure that they are making impact on the led.

    The Governor stated this on Saturday while speaking at the 60th birthday celebration of Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Oyo Chapter, Rev. Samson Ajetomobi, at The Men of Issachar Vision Leadership and Mission Centre, Olororo, Ojoo, Ibadan.

    He described Ajetomobi as a man whose life and ministry are defined by impact, service to God and commitment to humanity.

    According to Makinde, true leadership goes beyond positions and privileges, it should be about service and impact, noting that a lot of lessons could be drawn from the life of Rev Ajetomobi, whose life, he noted, “reflects purposeful service and selflessness.”

    READ ALSO; Angela Okorie urges fans to prioritise self-love, peace

    He said: “Whether in government, faith, or community service, leadership should not be about consumption or accumulation, but about impact.

    “The true measure of leadership is how many lives are touched, how many communities are lifted, and how much hope is restored. This is one principle that has guided our government in the last six years and some months.”

    Makinde extolled the virtues of Rev Ajetomobi, noting that his influence goes beyond the pulpit, as he has consistently demonstrated impactful leadership through prayers, counsel, and commitment to the wellbeing of the people.

    He congratulated the cleric at 60, noting that the new age is the beginning of a renewed phase of service to God and humanity.

    He also appreciated Ajetomobi and other men of God for their support for him and his administration, saying: “Rev Ajetomobi and other men of God stood by me at very uncertain moments. They prayed with me, encouraged me, and strengthened my resolve when the future was unclear. That support reminds us that leadership is never a solo journey.

    “At 60, you are only just beginning. My prayer is that God grants you good health, renewed strength, and many more years of meaningful service to humanity.”

    In his sermon at the event, President of the PFN, Bishop Wale Oke, noted that Rev Ajetomobi is a man of grace, humility, and consistency in faith and a servant-leader who understands kingdom responsibility and lives beyond personal ambition

    Oke said: “Rev Samson Ajetomobi is deeply rooted in God and has remained faithful to the call of unity and service within the body of Christ.

    “He does not seek applause, yet his impact is evident. His faith translates into compassion, integrity, and service to society.”

    While responding, Ajetomobi expressed gratitude to God and the guests for the overwhelming show of love, noting that his 60th birthday offers an opportunity for a renewed commitment to humanitarian service.

    “The greatest gift I desire is not material. I want us to reach rural communities around Ibadan—building schools, providing boreholes, and bringing hope to places that are often forgotten.

    “At 60, my prayer is that God will continue to use us as instruments of hope. If we can touch one life and lift one community, then our service has meaning.”

    The event was attended by a former Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Wilson-Jack; Oyo State Head of Service, (HoS) Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, mni; Oyo State Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey and Urban Development, Mr. William Akin-Funmilayo and other government officials.

    Also in attendance were Christian leaders from across the country.

  • We’re committed to delivering dividends of democracy – Makinde

    We’re committed to delivering dividends of democracy – Makinde

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has reiterated his administration’s commitment to delivering dividends of democracy to residents of the state.

    ‎The governor stated this on Friday, during a courtesy visit to the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, at his palace in Orile-Igbon, Surulere Local Government Area of the state.

    ‎‎The governor, who called for more cooperation from residents of Ogbomoso Zone, assured them that the rehabilitation of inner roads in the five local government areas would soon be flagged off, noting that his focus is to ensure that the state is developed without leaving any zone behind.

    The governor equally expressed the confidence that there will be continuity of good governance in the state, as he would be succeeded by a governor who will sustain and surpass the achievements recorded by his administration.

    Read Also: Ibadan Bodija explosion victims urge Makinde to use N30bn FG support for compensation

    ‎Earlier in his remarks, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon commended Governor Makinde on various unprecedented achievements recorded by his government, just as he pledged the continued support of the people of the zone to the governor.

    ‎The event had in attendance the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Hon Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola; Senior Executive Assistant to the Governor on General Duties, Chief Bayo Lawal; Chairman, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, Basorun Akinwole Akinwale; Chairman, Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr. Saka Balogun, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members, among others.

    Traditional rulers in attendance included the Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oyediran and the Aresapa of Iresapa, Oba Moses Ajiboye.

  • Makinde to set up special intervention fund for LAUTECH’s Iseyin campus

    Makinde to set up special intervention fund for LAUTECH’s Iseyin campus

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said that his administration will create a special intervention fund to address infrastructure and academic gaps at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Iseyin Campus.

    Makinde said this yesterday, during a stakeholders’ meeting at the state’s secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

    He noted that the intervention would cover accommodation for students and lecturers; IT centre, healthcare centre, and buses to ease mobility.

    The governor said the state had invested N15 billion in the College of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources, Iseyin campus.

    He, however, warned that staffers, students and residents of the host community must shun indiscipline and actions that could heighten teething problems of the fledgling institution.

    He added that his administration would continue to provide necessary support to the education sector in the state.

    Read Also: Makinde inaugurates Olubadan as Council of Obas’ chairman

    Makinde stressed that stakeholders, especially students and lecturers, must cooperate with the government and the governing council of the institution.

    He urged students to always discuss their requests with the government, rather than resorting to protests, which could result in vandalism.

    Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof. Razak Kalilu, commended the governor for solving the ownership issue and establishing the College in Iseyin.

    He also commended the governor for the relocation of all students of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Science from the main campus of the university in Ogbomoso to the Iseyin campus.

    Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the students, Mr Israel Olaobaju thanked the governor for his recent visit to the campus, adding that it had birthed positive developments on the campus.

  • Makinde reshuffles cabinet, appoints new SSG, others

    Makinde reshuffles cabinet, appoints new SSG, others

    Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde has announced a cabinet reshuffle.

    According to a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Makinde has relieved the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo, of her appointment with immediate effect. 

    Professor Musibau Adetunji Babatunde has been appointed as the new Secretary to the State Government.

    The statement further said that Temilolu Seun Ashamu has been moved as Commissioner from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

    Also, Governor Makinde announced his Senior Special Assistant on Public Works, Ademola Aderinto, as a commissioner-designate. 

    He will consequently be presented to Oyo Assembly for screening.

    The statement also announced the appointment of Abiodun Adedoja as Special Adviser on Energy Security and Kolawole Elijah Akanmu as Senior Special Assistant on Budget and Economic Planning.

  • Last man sinking

    Last man sinking

    Seyi Makinde is one of the politicians that has the look of the meek but acts with the stealth of a reptile, especially the green variety. The reptile can do nothing until its back is against the wall in the home, and then it tries to deliver its strike. The thing is, the reptile is not supposed to be in the house and so its anger should belong to the landlord.

    That is the problem with the Oyo State governor. He is now in a corner and all he can do now is try to strike. But Makinde first showed a lack of creative flair. He wanted to fight Nyesom Wike and yet he borrowed his style. He gathered journalists in Ibadan, and the sitting arrangement is also like Wike. His is like what in literary tradition is described as the anxiety of influence in which you imitate the person as though they are imitating you. You have to perfect it or else they will call you a copycat and it will mean you are trying to flatter your model. In this case, Wike may not be impressed.

    Read Also: FG did not give Makinde N50bn, only N30bn was released – Aide

    Then he turned it into an ego booster for himself. He told us how good a business man he is and how he can be president. He lies to himself in public about the tranquility in PDP. Everyone has fled, even his fellow governors. There was a pity of a picture online where he was sitting at a one-man southern PDP summit. He probably did not get the memo. Or he got it, but lost his memory. He is suffering because of his insistent illusion. As Roman sage Seneca wrote, People “suffer more in the imagination than in reality.”

    He wants to imitate President Bola Tinubu, who is known as the last man standing. Makinde is like a passenger in a ship that caught fire in Joseph Conrad’s novella, Youth. A fire was already gutting the ship. The first to know were the rats that were leaping out of the vessel. By the time many on board like Makinde  knew, the ship in its magnificence had been lapped up by flames. That is Makinde. He is the last man sinking. He just does not know. First, he needs to answer Fayose’s poser about another fire under his watch and a certain saga of N50 billion.

  • Makinde, Turaki on destruction of PDP

    Makinde, Turaki on destruction of PDP

    Oyo State’s governor Seyi Makinde said so many things during his media chat last Tuesday in Ibadan, the state capital. His statements have helped to open a window into the delicate workings of his mind, the quality of his reasoning, and the depth of his political perspectives. He has, unfortunately, not emerged with the lustre he hoped his frank and provocative discussions would acquire. Anyone who seeks a rational explanation for the collapse of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should look no further than Mr Makinde, an engineer, who now doubles as the leader of the party; Tanimu Turaki, the actual chairman of the party; and before them, their 2023 presidential candidate, the remorseless former vice president Atiku Abubakar.

    Mr Makinde’s expostulations are extraordinary and far-fetched, even bogus. Mr Turaki, a lawyer, is remembered for his mawkish interpretation of politics and his public invitation to the United States president Donald Trump to save Nigerian democracy because two factions of the PDP fought over the party’s headquarters in Abuja. And the flighty Alhaji Atiku encapsulates his politics in adventurism and opportunism, jumping from one party to another seeking relevance and office. Three straight electoral defeats starting from 2015 and ending in 2023 have conspired to strip the party of knowledgeable and experienced politicians and strategists, leaving third-rate party leaders incapable of plotting the most elementary electoral victory. One year of trying to coax the party into a fighting force has also depleted it of vigour.

    Back to the magisterial Mr Makinde. Like everyone else left in the PDP, the Oyo governor blamed outsiders for the party’s woes. The insiders were, in his estimation, loyal and blameless, in fact flawless, having observed all rules and regulations as well as electoral laws and the constitution perfectly. He dismissively characterised any other faction purporting to be a faction as either pretentious or inexistent. Then he sneered at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for disingenuously seeming to recognise the existence of factions. Hear him: “And by the way, the way the PDP is today, there is no faction. We held a convention here in Ibadan. We gave adequate notice to INEC, which is all that we are required to do under the law. So, it will take INEC some time if they choose to behave like the ostrich, bury their head and all of their bodies outside…Now, to hide all of these things that they are not supposed to hide, they basically called the two factions together, played our people, by saying they wanted to engage with the leadership of PDP…And then, they (Makinde faction) got there and found out that they called Samuel Anyanwu and co (Nyesom Wike faction). I said, that’s even silly to start with…”

    Mr Makinde is in denial over the status of the party. No Nigerian believes the PDP is not factionalised in fact and in law, except of course the governor and his coterie. And talking about the convention, which many party leaders counselled should be postponed until some healing could be attempted in the party, the governor insisted all the convention planners needed to do was invite INEC. He was silent on whether there was no right or wrong way to notify INEC of the meeting, or that INEC reserved the right to assess the legality of the invitation. The governor went on to argue that the Supreme Court had, by two judgements, seemed to virtually cede to parties the power to determine their own affairs one way or the other, irrespective of the provisions of the law. He likened the electoral commission to the ostrich and derided it for ‘tricking’ the Makinde faction into sitting at table with the Wike faction, an accusation echoed by party chairman Mr Turaki who has accused INEC of bias. The fault is always in others, never in the PDP or its shambolic self-appointed leaders.

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    But that was not the end of his fiery denunciations of his party’s detractors. Despondent, he accused the electoral body of conspiring with unnamed others to kill the party. Said he: “There’s a danger that if you do that, you may, you know, unknowingly… kill democracy in this country, God forbid.” In other words, on the issue of the PDP, and despite the misgivings of so many PDP leaders, including the Ibadan convention planning committee leaders who took exception to the governor’s style, Mr Makinde was peerless and unassailable. Any other person who refuses to identify with his position was a detractor and an apostate. Indeed, as far as he was concerned, the decisions taken at the convention, including the elections/affirmations and expulsions, were unquestionable. It is not clear what he thinks of his logic or whether he has had time to reflect on how he sounded to himself. But his adamantine resolve to press ahead on his chosen path while lashing out at dissenters unsettled by the intractability of the party’s position and Mr Makinde’s oversimplification gives the impression of somebody unable to wean himself off the predictable and mechanical certainties of engineering in favour of the slow and sometimes painstaking effort needed to forge a consensus.

    Mr Makinde’s destination in the media chat, however, was Mr Wike and President Bola Tinubu. He accused the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, leader of the other PDP faction, of duplicity in pledging to virtually destroy the party to smooth the way for the APC in 2027. He also described President Tinubu, whom he supported in 2023, as incapable of responding adequately to the country’s challenges because of his refusal to run “a government of national unity, government of national competence.” He said he regretted that support, and would not give it in 2027. Mr Wike will, of course, respond soon, for he is not known to suffer his enemies gladly, especially after being accused of perfidy. As for the president who declined to appoint Mr Makinde’s nominee for ministerial position, it was the end of the 2027 electoral road. Like everything else he said at the media chat, the Oyo governor displayed a penchant to oversimplify complex political matters. The months ahead and the suits filed at various courts by both factions of the party will determine whether the Oyo governor saw the future through his inelegant and imperious dismissals of his opponents and their arguments or he is trapped in the past by his mystifying projections of what he sees as the country’s retrograde electoral future.

  • Alaafin, Oyo Speaker hail Makinde at 58

    Alaafin, Oyo Speaker hail Makinde at 58

    Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has described Governor Seyi Makinde as a leader, who demonstrates the rare combination of thinking and doing.

    He said Makinde had exhibited the quality of a good leader, who had the courage of not only taking actions, but also being ready to face the consequences of his actions.

    The first-class monarch made the remark through his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, in a congratulation message on his 58th birthday.

    Oba Owoade said Governor Makinde came with a vision, he had courage and competence, he believed in probity, ‘’this is why Oyo State is steadily progressing.’’

    He added: “Governor Makinde is more interested in people who can sustain his institutional reforms and other legacies and not in his own personal preferences.

    Oyo House of Assembly Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin has extended warm birthday felicitations to Governor Makinde, who turned 58 yesterday.

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    Describing the governor as “a Christmas gift not just to Oyo State, but also to Nigeria,” the Speaker hailed his people-focused leadership, visionary governance and dedication to the development of the state.

    Ogundoyin in a congratulatory message to the governor, said: “On behalf of the 10th Oyo State House of Assembly and the good people of Ibarapa East, I join millions of Nigerians to celebrate a transformational leader and a trailblazer, who has redefined good governance in Oyo State. Your birthday, which coincides with Christmas, is symbolic — because your life and service continue to be a blessing to many.”

    Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land, Edo and Delta states, Dr Dawud Akinola, has extended his warm congratulations to Governor Makinde on the occasion of his birthday.

    In a personal goodwill message, the religious leader described Makinde as a leader, whose style of governance reflected vision, inclusiveness and commitment to the welfare of the people of Oyo State.

    He lauded the governor for his efforts in promoting peaceful coexistence, infrastructural development and policies aimed at improving the quality of life of residents.