As the 2027 general elections draw closer, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has intensified his stance on the national stage, asserting that his record of governance makes him qualified to lead Nigeria.
Speaking during a media parley in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, Makinde highlighted his administration’s “Roadmap for Accelerated Development” as a blueprint for national transformation.
The governor hinged this on his experience leading the South-West state and his work as an engineer over the past years.
He stated: “Let me make this very clear: to serve this country at the highest level, I am qualified — I’m even overqualified.
“I ran Oyo State, even the current president — what brought him to the table? He was governor of Lagos State for two terms. By the end of May 2027, by God’s grace and God sparing my life, I will have completed the full tenure as a two-term governor of Oyo State.
“Professionally, I ran a company from a very young age. At 29, some of my colleagues were still finishing their youth service. I ran the company, and people can go out there and check — I did not go to NNPC or the likes. I was working for multinational oil companies, including Shell, ExxonMobil, and Chevron.”
With more than a year left before the country heads to the polling booths, Makinde says it is too early to discuss the presidential race.
According to him, Nigerians want a viable democracy with strong opposition parties. He criticised the defection of governors and other top politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that the move does not bode well for Nigeria.
He added that his immediate priority is the survival of the PDP, which has seen its ranks
