Proponents of Governor Seyi Makinde’s potential presidential run seem to have two doable motives – to exacerbate divisions throughout the opposition Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP) or to search for a formidable candidate from the Southwest to problem President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid. Nevertheless, it stays unclear whether or not the governor is conscious of those underlying methods, SEYE OLUMIDE studies.
THE permutation about Governor Seyi Makinde’s presidential aspiration has sparked various reactions amongst Nigerians. To many, it’s too early to distract the incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has not spent two years in workplace and continues to be battling with the consequences of his financial reforms which might be but to affect the lives of Nigerians positively.
Nevertheless, others see advantage within the Oyo State governor’s ambition, arguing that it might function a catalyst for improved governance by protecting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on its toes, therefore underscoring the complicated interaction between governance and political ambition.
There may be hypothesis that Makinde’s announcement and denial is perhaps a strategic transfer to gauge public opinion reasonably than a definitive dedication to run. Many Nigerians have interpreted this political posturing as a sign of a possible rift between Makinde and Tinubu, presumably ending their earlier political alignment.
It’s value noting that the race for the 2027 presidency started within the minds of many politicians instantly the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) declared Tinubu because the winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential election. This early jockeying for place underscores the perpetual nature of political campaigning in Nigeria’s dynamic political panorama.
Over the last normal election, Makinde’s title was prevalent within the information as one of many sturdy PDP governors that shaped G-5. The group was led by former governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who withdrew their assist from the presidential candidate of the occasion, former vice chairman Atiku Abubakar, due to the occasion’s insensitivity to the zoning method as entrenched in its structure.
Makinde was one of many strategists of the G-5, who didn’t solely rebuff the grand mega presidential marketing campaign of Atiku in Ibadan, but additionally overtly surrendered the PDP platform in Oyo State to the election of the APC candidate, which gave Tinubu victory throughout the 33 native councils of the state over Atiku.
The governor additionally allegedly sacrificed the three senatorial districts seats to APC, just for him to surprisingly stage a come-back to defeat the candidate of the APC, Teslim Folarin, within the March 18, 2023 governorship election even because the PDP received all of the state’s Home of Meeting seats.
Makinde and the G-5, nonetheless, had a political alliance with Tinubu through the 2023 presidential election, which culminated in Wike’s eventual appointment because the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. It was gathered that Makinde felt shortchanged with numerous political appointments made by the President as he couldn’t safe ministerial appointments for his loyalists, who sacrificed to make sure his victory on the ballot.
The wedge between the Oyo State governor and President Tinubu turned extra pronounced when the President secured monetary autonomy for native councils by the Supreme Courtroom, which Makinde publicly criticised.
The governor didn’t cease there; he additionally ensured that the Oyo State council chairmen pulled out of Affiliation of Native Authorities of Nigeria (ALGON), after which he started the marketing campaign in opposition to the financial hardship and insurance policies of the Federal Authorities.
Thus, the occasion of October 18, 2024 was seen in lots of political circles as strategically organised to declare his readiness to deal with President Tinubu within the 2027 presidential election. Though the occasion was deliberate to host PDP press corps members in Ibadan, the place he showcased his initiatives within the Southwest state, Makinde’s supporters used the gathering to rally assist for his presidential ambition with the launch of the hashtag #MakindeForPresident.
Curiously, the official social media deal with of the PDP within the state has been utilizing the hashtag #MakindeForPresident whereas posting images and movies of the governor’s signature initiatives.
Just lately, Tinubu appointed Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe because the Director-Basic and International Liaison for the Nigeria-China strategic partnership reached by the 2 nations through the President’s go to to that nation in September this 12 months. Nevertheless, Makinde has not issued a public congratulatory message to Tegbe until now neither has the PDP in Oyo State. It was learnt that each Makinde and PDP had been confused about how Tegbe, an in depth ally of the governor and senatorial candidate of PDP Oyo South within the final normal election, acquired the appointment.
An inside supply stated one of many grouses Makinde has in opposition to Tegbe’s new job is that he was not contacted earlier than the appointment and noticed it as an try and trigger division amongst his supporters.
However talking on Makinde’s presidential ambition, his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Pastor Olarenwaju Sulaimon, stated there was nothing like that when contacted. He stated his principal is extra involved about growing Oyo State for now whereas additionally specializing in easy methods to reposition the PDP forward of the 2027 elections.
Nevertheless, with Makinde’s declaration that no one can set an agenda for him and that the 2027 elections shall be between the ruling occasion and Nigerians, pundits imagine that the chilly battle between him and the President has been blown open.In the meantime, one other college of thought believes that the Presidency could also be flying the kite and utilizing Makinde’s rumoured presidential ambition to additional divide PDP. They hinge their suspicion on the shut relationship between Makinde and Wike who has not hidden his dedication to assist Tinubu’s second time period ambition.Reacting to the insinuation, Makinde disagreed with these accusing the ruling occasion of interfering with different political events within the nation in order to not have opposition within the subsequent normal election. Slightly, he charged leaders of the PDP to look inwards and see how they will work collectively and salvage the nation, including that the subsequent election shall be between the ruling occasion and Nigerians.One of many governor’s shut allies, who pleaded for anonymity, advised The Guardian that it might be foolhardy of any political thinker to say that the Oyo State governor is just not all in favour of contesting for the presidency in 2027 .“There is no such thing as a crime if the governor seeks to be elected as president in 2027. He has the tutorial {qualifications}; he has ruled Oyo twice and we’re all seeing his achievements,” the supply stated.He famous that Makinde continues to be very younger and wholesome at 54, additional describing him as a severe and astute administrator who additionally has the monetary wherewithal to bankroll his ambition.He additionally identified that the governor is equally effectively linked, including that “to undermine his political and presidential ambition is like committing political suicide.”However a chieftain of the APC in Lagos State stated it has change into apparent that the 2027 return bid of President Tinubu may not be that straightforward as many youths could not vote for him. He additionally stated that the North could not essentially wish to truncate the second time period of the South; therefore the area is on the lookout for somebody whose charisma can attain the youth.Makinde completely matches into the challenge from the South since northerners could unlikely be favourably disposed to an Igbo presidency in 2027.He additionally stated the entire story surrounding Makinde’s 2027 presidential ambition is perhaps coming from the Presidency as a decoy.Talking on the problem, a chieftain of the APC in Osun State, Alhaji Liad Tella, stated there isn’t a qualm about Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. The media administrator and social scientist stated by this time in 2025, the incumbent authorities should have addressed the financial hardship to such an extent that Nigerians can be singing the president’s praises.“Please quote me on that,” he stated. “I don’t see Makinde contesting in opposition to Tinubu simply as I don’t see the North completely working in opposition to the incumbent authorities. Politics is deeper than the floor evaluation many individuals are doing.”Nevertheless, whereas the permutations for the 2027 presidential polls are already ongoing, some students have accused the political leaders of neglecting fundamental governance however specializing in politics.President of the Yoruba Ronu Management Discussion board, Akin Malaolu, stated anyone from any a part of Nigeria can aspire to contest in opposition to Tinubu for the reason that rotational presidency settlement was destroyed final 12 months when the Southeast area was alleged to have been allowed to provide the president.He, nonetheless, stated Makinde ought to reasonably consider easy methods to rebuild Nigeria and maintain its unity greater than his private ambition.He additionally suggested the Oyo State governor to focus on easy methods to resolve the interior disaster in PDP and make it a formidable opposition that may compete favourably and wrestle energy from APC in 2027.Malaolu, who known as for the convocation of a nationwide convention earlier than the subsequent normal election, warned that, “if Nigeria goes for one more presidential election with out addressing basic problems with her unity, it’d spell doom.”Former Basic Secretary of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide, stated it doesn’t make sense if any Yoruba man is aspiring to contest in opposition to Tinubu. To him, “what must be paramount to us is easy methods to rebuild the nation and improve her unity.”He added: “That is the primary time I’m seeing a severe and decided effort by a president to handle the basic points affecting Nigeria and he shouldn’t be distracted at this second.”
