Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has stated that he possesses the capacity and competence to lead Nigeria as President in 2027.
The governor made the bold assertion on Tuesday, April 15, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Speaking on his political ambition, Makinde said his achievements in Oyo State have proven his readiness for the nation’s highest office.
“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,” he stated.
While expressing confidence in his leadership abilities, Makinde noted that a presidential ambition must align with the desires of Nigerians and the direction of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“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,” he added.
Makinde emphasized that the immediate priority for PDP leaders is to restructure and strengthen the party ahead of future elections.
“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 said.
Rejecting populist politics, Makinde maintained that he remains focused on governance and the mandate given to him by the people of Oyo State.
“Right now, I am focusing on what people, what they’ve given to me, the task ahead of us, and so, I’m not distracted, and I will not play stunt politics,” he stated.
He further stressed that any political decision he makes in the future would be driven by planning and 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.”
Reflecting on his political journey since joining politics in 2007, Makinde expressed contentment with how far he has come.
“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.
“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,” he said.
