Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that his successor in 2027 will emerge through the will of the people and not through political godfathers or entitlement politics.
Makinde stated this on Thursday in Ibadan while flagging off the zonal stakeholders’ consultative forum and engagement meeting on the preparation of the 2026 Budget, stressing that only credible leaders with a clear development vision will enjoy the people’s mandate.
“Oyo State has gone beyond the era of politics based on entitlement or propaganda,” the governor said. “Our people are now politically aware, and they will only support leaders who present practical plans and show capacity to deliver.”
Reflecting on his own political journey before assuming office in 2019, Makinde said he was initially underestimated because he had never held public office.
“In 2018, when I was consulting to become governor, there was no yardstick to measure me. I had not been a councillor or a local government chairman, but I told the people to judge me by my actions. Today, accountability remains my guiding principle,” he added.
The governor urged political leaders and aspirants to prioritise development-driven governance rather than political theatrics, insisting that his administration’s roadmap was built on measurable goals and transparent performance.
According to Makinde, since his administration introduced the stakeholders’ budget consultation process in 2019, Oyo State has recorded better budget performance and stronger economic growth.
“We separated the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning from the Ministry of Finance to ensure efficiency, transparency, and proper resource management,” he explained.
He noted that the annual engagement has helped the state identify citizens’ priorities and tailor projects that meet grassroots needs.
“This bottom-up approach allows residents to influence government decisions directly. That’s why we’ve been able to build infrastructure that connects communities, from the Moniya–Iseyin Road to the Oyo–Iseyin and Iseyin–Ogbomoso roads,” he said.
Makinde added that the state’s rapid infrastructural expansion had reduced rural–urban migration by creating new economic corridors and investment opportunities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to institutional reforms that will ensure continuity in governance and safeguard Oyo’s development beyond his tenure.
“Our goal is to build systems that outlive any administration. That way, Oyo State will continue to grow irrespective of who becomes governor after me,” he stated.
Makinde, who is currently serving his second term, is expected to leave office in 2027.
Earlier this month, he had advocated a single term of five or six years for political officeholders at all levels, saying it would encourage focus and accountability in governance.
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