As the Oyo State’s 2027 governorship election hots up, Governor Seyi Makinde has begun to unveil his strategic plans to produce a successor after the expiration of his second term in office. This is also amidst the story of his “supposed” presidential ambition.
While the opposing political parties in the state are presently preoccupied with scheming and realignment, Makinde, the ultimate leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is already closing the gaps that may work against his preferred candidate.
As expected of a smart politician that he is, the very first major move the governor has made is, to reaffirm the fact that power actually belongs to the people of the state to determine next governor after presenting to them a suitable candidate, who, he said he will be unveiling by January 2026.
The primary goal, according to Makinde, is to present to the people of Oyo State a candidate who will continue the trajectory of sustainable development and transformation that has been the hallmark of his administration.
He believes it shouldn’t be difficult for the residents to decide the destiny of the state come 2027 as his administration has redefined governance and showed the people what is possible with strategic thinking and targeted implementations.
Of course, Makinde, naturally, would want a loyal and committed successor for himself. The likely successor must not only be sellable and a widely accepted candidate but also an individual who will not rubbish the image and legacies of his predecessor. Beyond that, Makinde will also be bringing to bear his many years of experience in the political arena.
Having studied and understood the real essence of power and the dynamism of Oyo politics, he’s playing his card beautifully well.
He’s presently addressing some of these issues that initially appeared to be very tough. For example, the issue of the aggrieved party members. Those believed to be angry because of the governor’s past decisions or policies are being engaged in critical discussions while some have already been settled with one appointment or the other.
Even the PDP Federal Reps candidates who lost out in 2023 as a result of Makinde’s support for President Tinubu’s candidacy, some of them have been persuaded and duly compensated. The same goes for other party loyalists across the state. It has been appointments galore in Oyo State lately.
Another key factor that will work for Makinde’s succession plan is the massive projects that his administration has embarked on.
While his administration may not be totally free of blemishes here and there, Makinde is definitely consolidating on his first term achievements to bring about a rapid change in the areas infrastructure development, tourism, agriculture, economic expansion etc.
He has touched virtually all the key sectors of the economy of the state. He’s in touch with the market women, the civil servants, pensioners, as well as small scale business owners through many incentives including prompt payment of salaries and pension, soft loans and aides to those in the agric business and more.
Also, the governor has since rolled out his legacy projects. As recently revealed by the state’s Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport, Hon. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, the Makinde-led administration has delivered 368.9 kilometres of roads in the last two years of the second term, transforming Oyo into a thriving South-West economic hub.
The star project of the administration, Mogbonjubola noted, is the 110 kilometres Ibadan Circular Road, named after former Governor Rasidi Ladoja, which its first phase, a 32km, known as the South-East Wing, running from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to Badeku Village on Ibadan-Ile Ife Expressway, would be delivered before the end of the year.
This is aside the massive rehabilitation that is currently going on on inner roads within the capital city. Most of the pothole-ridden inner roads within the Ibadan metropolis are beginning to wear a new look, and the governor has also promised to extend this to the other parts of the state.
Interestingly also, nature has presented Makinde with a rare opportunity of crowing an unprecedented number of top traditional rulers in the state, including First Class Obas and Baales. Since he came on board, Makinde has crowned 9 major traditional rulers across the state. The emergence of former governor Ladoja as the next Olubadan will make it 10.
The Oyo traditional rulers who Makinde has crowned and presented with staff and instrument of office included Late Olubadan Oba Lekan Balogun, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland; Oba Ghandi Olaoye, Orumogege, the 21st Soun of Ogbomoso; Late Olubadan Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland; Oba Abimbola Owoade, 46th Alaafin of Oyo; Oba Khalid Oyeniyi, the 33rd Okere of Saki; Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola, the Eleruwa of Eruwa; Oba Sakiru Oyewole Akanni Oyelere, Onifiditi of Fiditi; Oba Cornelius Taiwo Oladokun, Alaawe of Awe; Oba Titiloye Oyekanm, the Elempe of Tapa, and now Oba Rashidi Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.
What that simply means is the that Makinde enjoys great supports from the traditional circle in the state.
One must not also forget the fact that Makinde has the financial wherewithal to support his preferred candidate in an election as crucial as the guber race.
All these factors, coupled with the obvious reality of the possibility of Makinde repeating the 2023 tactic by supporting President Tinubu’s reelection while he remains in PDP and he, in return, gets full federal support to assist him in producing his successor, are expected to influence the outcome of Oyo Guber Race in 2027.
-Dare Adeniran
08057639079
