Sell your ideas, stop accusing me, Makinde urges aspirants
By Adejayan Gbenga
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has urged politicians seeking to succeed him in the 2027 governorship election to stop using the shortcomings of his administration as a campaign strategy, stressing that he will not be on the ballot.
Makinde made the remarks on Monday in Ibadan while reacting to comments by some governorship aspirants, including Accord Party candidate, Oriyomi Hamzat, who claimed that he played a role in encouraging the governor to venture into politics.
The governor urged the aspirants to focus on explaining their plans to residents rather than attacking him or dwelling solely on what his administration has yet to accomplish.
“I have seen a few people going around saying they want to become governor. I saw another one that they showed me yesterday saying he was the one who brought me into politics. Some even said I didn’t do some things,” Makinde said.
“I am not the one contesting for governor. The people of Oyo State have given me the opportunity to serve them. Go and tell them what you want to do differently. Stop abusing Seyi Makinde,” he added.
Meanwhile, Makinde, whose second term expires in 2027, advised voters to hold all governorship candidates accountable by demanding details of their programmes and how they intend to build on his administration’s achievements while addressing areas where it may have fallen short.
Makinde said, “So next time when people come to talk to you, tell them that it is where we couldn’t finish that they want to continue, and sort those things out, so that every mistake that we have made, they will correct it in the best interest of the people of Oyo State.”
Accord party’s Hamzat, founder of Agidigbo 88.7 FM, declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in January 2026 and later emerged as the party’s candidate after its primary in May, having previously claimed that he encouraged Makinde to pursue his governorship ambition and supported his political career.
