Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has said competence and loyalty to the people of the state will be the determining factors in choosing his successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Makinde made the declaration at the 12th ‘Omituntun’ Annual Ramadan Public Lecture held at the Ibadan North Local Government Motor Park, Agodi Gate, Ibadan.
“I have been talking to quite a number of my colleagues, and they said the person they handed over power to got to office and started misbehaving. I asked them how they chose the person, supported him, but he changed when he got to the office.
“The common thread has been that they installed someone whom they felt would be loyal to them. Today, I have made up my mind that whoever would emerge as my successor would be based on competence and loyalty to Oyo State, not to Seyi Makinde,” he said.
“But moving forward, we don’t want to return to the period of political violence, irrespective of party affiliations. So, please keep praying that whoever would become the next governor should be loyal to the state,” the governor added.
He noted that his administration’s achievements were driven by loyalty to the state, adding that the government had paid over ₦25 billion to clear outstanding gratuities inherited from previous administrations.
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Makinde added that the monthly gratuity payment had been increased from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion to ensure no retiree is owed by May 2027.
The governor also listed the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport to international status as a key milestone, expressing optimism that Hajj pilgrims would be airlifted from the facility by May 2026.
Makinde thanked the Muslim community for its support since he assumed office in 2019, urging continued prayers for the administration.
To mark the lecture, he donated seven buses to mosques across the state and presented a brand-new SUV to the guest lecturer, Sheikh Jamiu Ajadi Sanusi (Ami Olohun).
Sheikh Sanusi, delivering a lecture on contentment, praised the government’s developmental efforts, advised caution against “mischievous people,” and encouraged residents to embrace contentment and peaceful coexistence.
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