Politics
‘You strangulated Oyo’s growth for 4 years’ – APC tells Makinde
Oyo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has posited that history would remember Governor Seyi Makinde as one who strangulated the growth and development of the state between 2019 and 2023 when he held sway as the executive governor after he would lose out in the next year general election.
This statement came against the backdrop of the determination of Oyo APC to dislodge the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from power in 2023 when the opposition party hope its gubernatorial candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin, would defeat all other parties’ standard bearers at the poll and thus put paid to the reelection bid of Governor Makinde as well as the aspiration of others such as Mr Adebayo Adelabu of the Accord Party.
In a statement issued on Friday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC took Makinde to the cleaners for allegedly making himself a negotiation tool in the hands of his colleague in Rivers state who was fighting a battle of life in the PDP.
“Ordinarily, we at Oyo APC should be glad that Governor Makinde has made our job easy as an opposition party desirous of sending him packing from office but it is not a thing of joy to us that the four-year period of 2019-2023 would go down in the history as the worst time when the governance was most uninspiring since the man at the helms of affairs strangulated the growth, progress and development of the state due to his incompetence, lack of focus and ego issue.
“How would an average citizen of the Pacesetter State explain to his children in the future that he had a governor who travelled out the state 23 times in six months neither to attract foreign investment nor attend to issues of interest to his state but rather to be on the entourage of his colleague governor who was fighting a political war with a superior clique within the cantankerous PDP which they all belonged?
“How would an average citizen of Oyo state tell the story of his governor (in future) when notes are to be compared among those who ruled states in the federation between 2019 and 2023 while it would be established that the likes of Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos delivered blue rail line and massive rice production at a time his counterpart in Oyo was siphoning funds through fictitious projects such as junction improvement and invisible gas project?
“It is on record that Governor Dave Umahi and Alhaji Atiku Bagudu of Ebonyi and Kebbi states respectively have something to show for huge investment in local rice production while Governor Makinde could not deliver his promise to export maize to Botswana. The present PDP administration has failed in all the key sectors of the economy as the sad manifestation could be seen in collapsing education, vulnerable security architecture, deplorable infrastructure, and zero agricultural plans among others.
“Governor Makinde lost it completely at the inception of his administration when he succeeded in edging out virtually all the principal actors among the coalition partners and original PDP leaders who assisted him to power. He dubbed them parasitic and never-do-well people who were not fit to move close to him as the governor of the state. Therefore, the same person (Makinde) should bury the thought of securing the confidence of any established force to rally around him in 2023 because he is now the most talked-about ingrate in the Nigerian political space”. APC said.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has called on Governor Seyi Makinde to resign immediately, alleging that his recent remarks on state security exposed incompetence and an inability to lead.
Governor Makinde, speaking during his acceptance speech as the Presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan on Saturday, lamented that he could do little to rescue abducted school children and residents in Oriire Local Government Area due to all security structures being under federal control.
Reacting, APC State Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, described the governor’s comments as “the height of cluelessness, insincerity, and criminal ineptitude,” warning that such disclosures reflect a dangerous trend among parochial leaders.
Sadare said, “Engr. Seyi Makinde could not find any fault in the nation’s Constitution, yet he swore twice to protect lives and properties of Oyo people. He has long enjoyed the powers of his office, controlling resources and people without challenge, but now faces a serious test, exposing incompetence, cluelessness, and ego.”
He added, “Instead of addressing security challenges, Makinde is exploiting the situation to push a mirage he calls a presidential ambition in 2027. His insensitive comments once again reveal hypocrisy. It is time he quit the office of the governor, having admitted he lacks the capacity to secure the state.”
The APC also recalled that previous governors, including Alhaji Lam Adesina, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, and the late Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, operated under the same constitutional provisions without similar security failures. Sadare particularly praised Ajimobi for establishing a Security Trust Fund to ensure funding and stakeholder involvement in security, in contrast to the current administration.
“Makinde’s presidential ambition is dead on arrival. Our concern is the continued loss, deprivation, and mismanagement the people of Oyo may suffer in the remaining year of his tenure. The state deserves a team player, a sincere and humble governor — qualities Makinde has failed to demonstrate in seven years. He should apologise and step down,” Sadare concluded.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday emerged as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for the 2027 general election following the conclusion of the party’s presidential nomination process.
Makinde emerged through consensus and affirmation by party delegates during the exercise, in what party leaders described as a demonstration of unity and confidence in his leadership ahead of the next general elections.
The governor was presented with his Certificate of Return by the National Chairman of the APM, Alhaji Yusuf Dantali, during a ceremony held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, amid cheers from party faithful, delegates and supporters drawn from different parts of the country.
Speaking during the presentation, Dantali said Makinde possesses the leadership qualities, administrative experience and vision required to steer the country towards sustainable growth and national development.
He urged party members across the federation to close ranks and intensify grassroots mobilisation to ensure victory for the party in the 2027 presidential election.
The APM national chairman maintained that the party remained committed to presenting Nigerians with what he described as a credible alternative capable of addressing the country’s economic, security and governance challenges.
According to him, the emergence of Makinde as the party’s flag bearer marked the beginning of a new political movement aimed at restoring hope and strengthening democratic governance in the country.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Makinde expressed appreciation to the leadership of the party and delegates for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to work with stakeholders across political, ethnic and religious divides to advance the party’s vision for national transformation.
The governor assured party supporters of his commitment to inclusive leadership, promising to prioritise policies that would improve economic prosperity, strengthen institutions and enhance the welfare of Nigerians if elected.
Five key members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have been appointed to the party’s campaign committee for the 2026 governorship re-election of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji in Ekiti State.
The Oyo APC leaders on the list include the party’s governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, former Senate leader Teslim Folarin, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, Zacch Adedeji, and Remi Oseni.
The list, signed by the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru, reflects the APC’s strategy of deploying experienced political figures with strong grassroots networks to ensure a successful re-election campaign in Ekiti.
“These appointments recognise their political experience and commitment to advancing the party’s agenda,” the source within the party said.
The APC committee is expected to coordinate campaign activities, voter engagement, and messaging, positioning the party for a strong showing in the 2026 governorship election.
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