Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has said he will not seek to influence or interfere in the administration of his successor, promising to give the 2027 governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, and her running mate, Hon. Muftau Open Salawu, the freedom to govern if elected by the people.
Makinde, who is serving his second and final term, said he would not play the role of a political godfather or attempt to control the affairs of the next administration, stressing that whoever succeeds him must be allowed to govern based on the mandate given by the electorate.
The governor spoke on Monday at the 2026 Hijrah 1448 luncheon organised in conjunction with the Muslim community in Oyo State.
Describing the event as his final Hijrah celebration as governor, Makinde said his tenure would have ended by the time of the next celebration, with a new administration already in place.
He explained that he attended the event despite being on leave because of a request from his deputy and the opportunity it provided to appreciate the Muslim community for its support throughout his administration.
According to him, the backing he received from Muslims, Christians and traditional worshippers contributed significantly to his victory in the 2023 governorship election.
Makinde said, “For them, this will be my last Hijrah celebration. Next year, this administration will end on May 29. So, new players, new leaders, new government is what we will have at that time.
“When the Acting Governor said that I should let our Muslim brothers and sisters see me for this last Hijrah in office, it makes sense to me, because it gives me an opportunity to come and thank the Muslim community for the support they gave me to become Governor, for the support they gave our government..”
Reflecting on the 2023 election, the governor recalled that some individuals had attempted to discourage Muslims from voting for him because of his Christian faith.
He, however, said the Muslim community supported his re-election in large numbers.
He said, “Let me say this. In the 2023 election, they said some people went behind to talk, saying you should not support Seyi Makinde.
“But what happened in the Oyo State election in 2023, my main opponent who happens to be a Muslim, Senator Folarin, with the massive support that I got in Oyo State, the margin between us doubled the one I used to win in 2019.
“That couldn’t have been done in a one-sided manner. It could have been done because both the Muslim community, the Christian community, even traditional worshippers, they gave us their massive support.”
Makinde subsequently appealed to the Muslim community to sustain its support for peaceful political participation and extend its backing to Adekanmbi and Salawu ahead of the 2027 election.
Speaking about his political journey, the governor said his pursuit of public office was driven by a desire to serve rather than personal ambition or the accumulation of political power.
He disclosed that he contested unsuccessfully in 2007, 2011 and 2015 before eventually winning the governorship election in 2019.
According to Makinde, those years outside government provided him with important lessons about leadership, adding that his eventual victory came when he believed it was God’s appointed time.
He said, “By 2015, I had learned it. By 2019, God said, ‘The time has come for Your will to be done, over me and over Oyo State.’ I was given the opportunity to serve.”
The governor then made a firm commitment about his relationship with whoever succeeds him, specifically mentioning the APM candidate and her running mate.
“And I promise you, I will not be a godfather to anybody, including Bimbo and Ope Salawu. If you give them the opportunity as you gave me, they will be responsible to the people of Oyo State,” he said.
He further pledged not to obstruct the incoming administration, saying he would step aside after leaving office and allow the next government to operate independently.
Makinde said, “We have stepped aside for them to run the government they want to run. I will not be a stumbling block.
“And given the warm response, when they want to come to me saying, ‘Ah, come and influence the next governor’ and all of that, no one influenced mine. I will not do it.
“So whoever wants to have a relationship with them, support them so our government can do everything that needs to be done. So that when that day comes, by God’s grace, don’t say, ‘Ah, this Seyi knows me very well as a good person,’ I will not interfere.”
The governor also challenged other contenders in the 2027 governorship race to concentrate on their programmes and policies instead of making attacks on his administration the focus of their campaigns.
He urged aspirants to explain to voters what they intended to do differently and better rather than repeatedly highlighting what they believed his government failed to accomplish.
“Go and talk about what you want to do for Oyo State instead. Stop abusing Seyi Makinde. I am not in the race to contest for governor. Why is it that Seyi Makinde didn’t do this or didn’t do that, is what you are carrying around?
“Say what you can do that is better than what I could do,” he stated.
Makinde further called on residents, particularly members of the Muslim community, to demand specific and measurable programmes from all candidates seeking to govern the state.
He said voters should prioritise issues that affect the welfare and development of the state, including peace, progress and prosperity.
“Feel free to demand from anybody who says they want to serve Oyo State. Feel free to demand from them things you know we need in the state: peace, progress, and prosperity for Oyo State,” he said.
The governor also asked anyone he may have offended during his tenure to forgive him, explaining that such actions may have occurred in the course of carrying out his official responsibilities.
“Those I might have offended, let me use this opportunity to tell you to please not be angry. It must have been in the course of discharging my responsibility as the Governor of Oyo State,” he said.
He added that he would continue to correct any wrongs and make amends where necessary during the remaining months of his administration.
Makinde expressed optimism that the incoming administration would build on the foundation laid by his government and urged residents to pray for a peaceful transition.
“May God fix our future. The incoming government, a government of peace, a government without discrimination, a government where they will take decisions in the best interest of the state,” he prayed.
Reflecting on his tenure, the governor said his administration had completed about 91 per cent of the statutory period allotted to it, arguing that its performance should be assessed based on its overall record rather than isolated events.
“Eight years is 96 months. Out of the 96 months, we have done 87, which is almost 91 per cent of it.
“So, if you see a few days, the remaining nine per cent, that you can use to tarnish Seyi Makinde’s name, it won’t work, because what I have done in government for over 91 per cent of the time allocated to me is probably what you will use to rate us,” he said.
