2027 presidency: Nobody can push my agenda for me, says Gov Makinde

• Promises to speak at the right time

• Advises that Nigeria mustn’t be allowed to slide into a one-party state

By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja

Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has declared that nobody can push him into making a definite statement over his rumoured presidential ambition, saying that he is old enough to take decision on his own.

He assured that he will speak on the matter at the appropriate time.

Speaking in Oyo town, in Oyo State, at the end of a three-day retreat organized by Journalists covering the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, activities (PDP Press Corps, Wadata, Abuja) on Friday night, the Governor equally advised that Nigerians, and the media in particular, should ensure that the country does not slide into a-one party State ahead of the 2017 general election.

Engr Makinde was widely reported on Friday by some online media platforms as having formally declared his presidential ambition for the 2027 presidential election.

However, the Governor outrightly dismissed the claim, stating unambiguously that he will speak on the issue at the appropriate time.

Makinde, who is presently serving his second term as the Governor of the Pacesetter state, empirically said , “We didn’t do this (retreat) because, somebody has a presidential ambition.

No comment, nothing like that .But what l can say to you is, I’m old enough, if I want to do something, I will come out and say, this is what I want to do.

“So, no speculation, nobody can push my agenda. I will push my agenda when the time comes”, he said.

The Governor, while noting that the nation is blessed with citizens with talents and intellects, advised Nigerians in general and the media practitioners in particular to help ensure that the country does not slide into a one-party state ahead of the 2027 general election.

His words, “In Nigeria, we have the talents, we have the intellects. Let’s not slide into a one-party state so that we can give others the opportunity so you can showcase what is possible in Nigeria.”

Aside from construction of roads, upgrading of the Ibadan airport and putting in place of several infrastructural facilities across the State, Makinde said that his administration would want to be remembered for building institutions such that good governance will be guaranteed in Oyo State, irrespective of who is coming in after him.

He said, “We want to be remembered for the institutions that we’re trying to build such that good governance will be guaranteed in Oyo State, irrespective of who is coming in. And we are succeeding.

“Before we came in, there was no Amotekun (local security outfit) , now I am wearing Amotekun cap right now. On Monday, they will graduate the forest rangers so that bandits will never have any foothold in our state. Amotekun wasn’t in existence before we came.

“On fighting corruption, we also set up our own anti-corruption agency. We set up our rule of law enforcement authority.”

Disclosing that he has no political god father, Makinde said, “Nobody sponsored me. Nobody gave a dime for us to get in there. But the people of Oyo state decided that they want to give this opportunity to an outsider.

“Before that time, you people said Seyi, what has he done before? Has he been a councillor? No. Has he been to the State House of Assembly? No. Has he been to House of Reps? No. How about Senate? I tried twice. I was rejected.

“No experience in politics, No experience in governance, but I have done well for myself in business. And before that time, the entire Southwest was APC.The entire Southwest. All the six states.

“But Oyo State said, no, we dare to be different. And because I didn’t have no experience, I wanted to convince the people.

“So, we produced a document, Roadmap to Accelerate Development of Oyo State 2019 to 2023. And I said to the people, look, this is the black and white, hold me accountable to this.

“And they gave us the opportunity and we saw it as a lifetime opportunity to change the narrative”, he said.