Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has revealed his succession plans for the state as his tenure approaches its expiration.
Speaking at a Students’ Legislative Summit organized by the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, in conjunction with the Students’ Representative Council at the University of Ibadan, Governor Makinde emphasized that he would not support any aspirant or candidate within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is above the age of 52.
Reflecting on his own journey to the governorship at the age of 51, Makinde highlighted that he had defied the odds, turning the seemingly impossible into reality.
He declared, “When I came in as the governor of Oyo State at age 51, some people believed it was impossible and against all odds, the impossible became possible.
I have decided that come 2027, I would not support any candidate above the age of 52 in my party for the position of governor of Oyo State.”
Makinde also emphasized the need to break the norm of “who is your father” politics in Oyo State. He shared his personal story, stating, “For us here, we have seen the common situation where ‘who is your father’ was the order of the day, but we have been able to break that in Oyo State.
My father was a ‘nobody,’ and the people of Oyo State still gave me the opportunity to lead.”
The governor encouraged the youth to aspire to leadership roles, pointing out historical examples such as General Yakubu Gowon, who became Head of State at 31, and former President Obasanjo, who retired as a General at 39.
He urged the youth not to underestimate their potential, saying, “You should dream big; people have ruled this country at very tender ages. So, for you, don’t think that at 29 or 30, you are too young to rule.”
Addressing the students directly, Makinde advised them to start pursuing their goals early, emphasizing the importance of utilizing their energy and enthusiasm. He said, “You have the students here and in about three years, some of you will be out there to move on.
If I were you, I wouldn’t start looking for work; I would start doing my own thing at a very early age of 24 or 25. With the kind of energy you still have, you can pull down the kingdom of Satan.”
