Seyi Makinde, Oyo governor, has dismissed speculation that he is considering a defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Makinde spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the public presentation of Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration, a book written by Lai Mohammed, former minister of information and culture.
“I am not APC, and I am not about to become APC,” the governor said.
He said Nigeria’s advancement would only be realised through honest cooperation among leaders across political lines in the collective interest of the country.
Makinde said the growing divisions in Nigeria were driven largely by the ambitions of political elites rather than the wishes of ordinary citizens.
He said most Nigerians desired unity and peaceful coexistence but were often mobilised along religious, ethnic and regional fault lines by politicians pursuing personal gain.
The governor cautioned against what he described as a “winner-takes-all” style of politics, warning that it entrenches exclusion and undermines national cohesion.
He said the political class must reach a shared understanding that places good governance and the resolution of pressing national problems above recycled political conflicts.
Makinde said his own political journey showed that leadership success was subject to divine timing, noting that he and the late President Muhammadu Buhari, both endured electoral defeats before assuming office.
He said Nigeria’s early leaders were preoccupied with forging unity after the civil war, while present-day challenges require new approaches and ideas.
The governor called for deliberate efforts to build political and governance structures that promote fairness, inclusion and long-term stability.