2027: ‘Southwest must work for Tinubu’ — Ooni says Makinde’s requests will be considered

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has said leaders will seek alignment on the political wishes of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde ahead of the 2027 general elections, while reaffirming his call for South-West leaders to work with President Bola Tinubu.

The monarch said he hoped to deliver a private message from Makinde and that leaders would agree on what the governor wanted and how he would be represented.

“I hope to deliver a private message from Seyi Makinde in Oyo State. We will all come together and everything will be aligned and agree in terms of what he wants and how he would be represented,” Ogunwusi said.

The Ooni spoke on Sunday at his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State, while addressing stakeholders during a visit by the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, and other political leaders seeking support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Makinde is the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), making the Ooni’s remarks on his political wishes notable as consultations gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, the monarch did not disclose the contents of the private message or specify the political arrangement being discussed.

Ogunwusi called on leaders across the South-West to work with Tinubu, saying the region would remain important to the country’s political calculations.

“The work has started, in harness, and I know everybody, not only in Osun, will be together. Also, I want to tell you that everybody in the South-West will continue to work with our very own, Mr President, President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

He added that cooperation between the South-West and North-West was critical to Nigeria’s political landscape.

“North-West and South-West are very critical in the political landscape of Nigeria. I am not a politician; I am a traditional ruler. But we must ensure that there is good continuity; everything is certain and everything is fine,” the monarch said.

The Ooni also acknowledged the representation of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, at the meeting, saying political stakeholders were united.

Yari led the APC delegation to the palace as part of consultations with traditional rulers ahead of Tinubu’s second-term bid.

Those on the visit included Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, former Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko, former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje.

Also present were former Speaker of the House of Representatives Patricia Olubunmi Etteh and other political leaders.