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.
