Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has declared that competence and loyalty to Oyo State rather than personal allegiance will determine his successor in the 2027 governorship election.
He made the statement during the 12th ‘Omituntun’ Annual Ramadan Public Lecture at the Ibadan North Local Government Motor Park, Agodi Gate, Ibadan, where he reflected on lessons from previous political transitions.
“I have been talking to quite a number of my colleagues, and they said the person they handed over power to got to office and started misbehaving. I asked them how they chose the person, supported him, but he changed when he got to the office. The common thread has been that they installed someone whom they felt would be loyal to them. Today, I have made up my mind that whoever would emerge as my successor would be based on competence and loyalty to Oyo State, not to Seyi Makinde,” he said.
Makinde stressed the importance of preserving peace in the state’s political landscape, cautioning against a return to violence.
“But moving forward, we don’t want to return to the period of political violence, irrespective of party affiliations. So, please keep praying that whoever would become the next governor should be loyal to the state,” he added.
The governor attributed his administration’s achievements to loyalty to the state and prudent financial management. He revealed that over ₦25 billion had been paid to offset outstanding gratuities inherited from previous administrations, while monthly gratuity payments had been increased from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion to ensure retirees are fully settled by May 2027.
Highlighting infrastructure progress, Makinde described the upgrade of Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport to international status as a landmark achievement, expressing optimism that Hajj pilgrims would begin airlift operations from the facility by May 2026.
Makinde expressed gratitude to the Muslim community for their support since he assumed office in 2019 and appealed for continued prayers for his administration. As part of the lecture activities, he donated seven buses to mosques across the state and presented a brand-new SUV to the guest lecturer, Sheikh Jamiu Ajadi Sanusi.
In his lecture on contentment, Sheikh Sanusi commended the administration’s developmental strides, cautioned against “mischievous people,” and encouraged residents to embrace contentment and peaceful coexistence.
Former governor and Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rasheed Ladoja, described Ramadan as a period that teaches perseverance and tolerance.
