Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde asserts his capability to lead Nigeria as president in 2027, while stressing his current focus on delivering for Oyo State

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has publicly stated his belief in his capacity to lead Nigeria as president in the 2027 general elections. Makinde made this declaration during an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” programme on Tuesday, asserting that his experience and achievements extend beyond his current role as governor of Oyo State.

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“I don’t have any doubt that I have the capacity to occupy the highest office in this land, and I have what it takes,” Makinde affirmed during the interview.

“But is it what I want to do right now? Is it what Nigerians are asking for? Is it what my party will say we should do? I don’t know. We still have a long time to go.”

Makinde emphasised that his immediate priority remains addressing the responsibilities entrusted to him as governor.

“Where we are right now is, you know, we must fix our party. You must have a platform for you to even aspire to be anything,” he stated, highlighting the importance of party unity and structure.

The governor also made it clear that he would not be swayed by political gimmicks or external pressures. “Right now, I am focusing on what people have given to me, the task ahead of us, and so I’m not distracted, and I will not play stunt politics,” he said.

“I will not do things because, well, it feels right in some people’s ears. No, we will do things, we will stay focused to ensure that we bring dividends of democracy to our people.”

Makinde stressed that any future political aspirations would be pursued with meticulous preparation and a strong sense of accountability.

“One thing you should expect from Seyi Makinde is that he will never come out to say, look, I want to do this, do X, Y, Z without preparation and without being held accountable for whatever it is that I say I want to do,” he stated.

He also expressed contentment with his current political journey, regardless of its future trajectory. “If my political journey ends right here, I am also very happy. When I joined politics in 2007, I wanted to go to the Senate. I wanted to be a senator,” Makinde reflected.

“But now, not only have I achieved more than that by being the governor of my state, I’ve also cherished the opportunity that people gave to me to make my own little difference.”