Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that the choice of who succeeds him in 2026 will be made solely by the people of the state, not by political godfathers or campaign slogans.
Makinde stated this on Thursday during a stakeholders’ consultative and engagement meeting on the 2026 budget, held in Ibadan, the state capital.
The governor said that residents of Oyo State are now politically enlightened and will scrutinise every candidate seeking their votes in the next governorship election.
“The decision on who would be the next governor rests with the people of Oyo State,” Makinde said. “We will make our own submission to the people because Oyo State has gone beyond stunt politics.”
He noted that the era of emotional slogans and blind endorsements was over, stressing that voters would interrogate every aspirant’s record, credibility, and capacity to deliver.
“Maybe it used to happen in the past. Now, Oyo State people will ask you questions. Gone are the days of ‘let’s just allow him to do it,’” the governor added.
Makinde also took a swipe at the Federal Government, accusing it of attempting to “demonise state governors” by portraying them as hoarding public funds.
“Let me also say that the Federal Government made a statement trying to demonise the governors, telling the people that the governors have more money,” he said.
He, however, argued that despite increased allocations, the real value of the funds has been eroded by inflation and low purchasing power parity.
“What we have tried to do in Oyo State is to ensure that government provides an environment where businesses can thrive,” Makinde explained.
The governor reiterated that his administration would remain focused on governance and economic development until the end of his tenure, rather than being distracted by succession politics.
He said the 2026 budget consultation reflects his government’s tradition of people-oriented planning, adding that residents’ participation in decision-making was a key feature of his administration’s open governance approach.
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