…stop abusing me, tell Oyo people your plans — Makinde

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has declared that he would not emerge as a “godfather” to the administration that would succeed him in 2027, insisting that whoever is elected governor of the state must be accountable to the people.

Makinde, who made the declaration on Monday at the Hijrah 1448/2026 luncheon, said the 2027 governorship candidates of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi and Hon. Muftau Open Salawu, would be responsible to the people of Oyo State if elected.

The governor spoke at the luncheon held at the Banquet Hall, Agodi Gate, Ibadan, where he also took a swipe at politicians seeking to succeed him for allegedly making him the focus of their campaigns instead of presenting their programmes and development blueprints to the electorate.

Makinde, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term as governor, said it was unnecessary for governorship candidates to continue attacking his personality and administration when they should be explaining to the people what they intend to do differently if elected.

He said, “I will never be a godfather to the coming Oyo State government. Bimbo Adekanbi and Hon. Open Salawu will be responsible to the people of Oyo State.”

The governor said he had observed that some of the governorship candidates campaigning across the state had devoted considerable attention to criticising his administration, despite the fact that he would not be on the ballot as a governorship candidate in 2027.

According to him, rather than making him the centre of their campaigns, the candidates should tell the electorate their plans for the state and explain how they intend to address the challenges confronting the people.

“I have seen several guber candidates talking around and abusing me. I don’t know why. I have done my best, and I am no more contesting as the governor of the state.

“They should rather abuse Hon. Bimbo Adekanbi and stop abusing me in those places; I wasn’t perfect,” he said.

Makinde acknowledged that his administration might not have been perfect, but maintained that its overall performance in office had earned it a positive assessment from the people.

He, therefore, challenged Oyo voters to subject all governorship candidates to scrutiny by demanding specific programmes, policies and measurable commitments from them before deciding whom to support in the 2027 election.

The governor said political campaigns should be about ideas and the future of the state rather than personal attacks or attempts to discredit a government that would soon complete its constitutional tenure.

He urged residents to confront politicians with questions about their plans whenever they visit their communities to canvass for votes.

“When next they come to campaign to you, tell them to list their intentions and blueprints instead of abusing Makinde,” he said.

Makinde further argued that attempts by political opponents to demarket his administration should not prevent the electorate from assessing the candidates based on their competence, policies and capacity to govern.

He said the people should not be carried away by political rhetoric but should demand concrete answers from those seeking their mandate.

“My performance in government has rated me high. No matter what they want to use to demarket me, in their attempt to demarket me, I put it to you people to demand from them what they have in stock for the people of Oyo State,” the governor added.

The governor’s remarks came against the backdrop of increasing political activities in the state ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with political parties and their candidates already positioning themselves for the contest.

He maintained that his administration should be judged on its record, while those seeking to succeed him should equally be judged on what they intend to offer the people.

He stressed that the ultimate authority in determining who governs Oyo State after the expiration of his tenure would rest with the electorate.

The governor therefore urged residents to look beyond campaign rhetoric and personal attacks, insisting that the 2027 contest should be centred on competing visions and practical solutions for the state.

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