Daud Olatunji
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has explained why he is seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, despite supporting the President’s candidacy during the 2023 general election.
Makinde, who has indicated his intention to contest the presidency on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement, said his decision to challenge Tinubu was driven by concerns over Nigeria’s direction and the dwindling opportunities available to ordinary citizens, rather than any personal disagreement with the President.
The governor made his position known in his latest newsletter, titled RESET NIGERIA, where he addressed questions surrounding his political realignment and decision to seek the country’s highest political office.
“I supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023. Today, I am running against him in the 2027 presidential election,” Makinde stated.
He said while some Nigerians had speculated that his decision might have followed a personal disagreement with Tinubu, his presidential ambition was rooted in what he described as the need to redirect the country towards a more promising future.
“Some people have asked what changed. Others believe there must have been a personal disagreement between us.
“I understand why they would think that. But my decision is not about a personal disagreement or an ambition to occupy Aso Rock. It is about the future of Nigeria and the opportunities available to Nigerians,” he said.
Explaining his support for Tinubu in 2023, Makinde said he had believed the President possessed the capacity to unite the country, build a government anchored on national unity and competence, and tackle Nigeria’s economic challenges.
However, he said his assessment of the administration had changed after three years in office, adding that the current direction of the government no longer reflected the expectations that informed his earlier support.
“Three years later, I no longer believe his administration is taking us in that direction,” the governor said.
To illustrate his concerns about Nigeria’s declining opportunities, Makinde offered a personal account of his upbringing, educational background and journey into entrepreneurship.
He said he was raised in a lower-middle-class family, with his father initially working as a teacher before retraining as an accountant, while his mother was a civil servant and telephone operator.
According to him, although his family was not wealthy, the Nigeria of his childhood offered ordinary families the opportunity to improve their circumstances through education, hard work and determination.
“We were not wealthy. But we lived in a Nigeria where an ordinary family could reasonably believe that education, hard work and determination would give their children a better life,” he recalled.
Makinde said he attended Bishop Phillips Academy, Ibadan, before proceeding to the University of Lagos, where he studied Electrical Engineering.
He subsequently built a career in engineering, specialising in industrial measurement and safety systems, before establishing Makon Engineering and Technical Services at the age of 29.
The governor said the company, which started as a small business, eventually expanded beyond Nigeria, stressing that his achievements were products of education, acquired skills and hard work rather than inherited wealth or political connections.
“I had an education, acquired useful skills, found opportunities and worked to make the most of them,” he said.
Makinde, however, expressed concern that the opportunities that enabled him to build a successful career were becoming increasingly inaccessible to young Nigerians.
He questioned whether young people could still confidently pursue education, acquire relevant skills, secure meaningful employment or establish businesses capable of surviving in the country’s present economic climate.
“And that is what troubles me about the Nigeria we have today. How many young Nigerians can confidently expect the same opportunities?
“How many can complete their education, acquire useful skills, find meaningful work or start a business with a reasonable expectation that it will succeed?
“How many parents can confidently tell their children that if they work hard and do the right things, they will have a better life?” he asked.
The governor’s declaration sets the stage for a fresh political contest ahead of the 2027 general election, with his decision to challenge Tinubu marking a significant departure from his political position during the last presidential election.
Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
