Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that he is fully qualified to lead Nigeria, as speculation about his potential 2027 presidential bid intensifies.
Speaking with journalists in Ibadan on Tuesday, Makinde pointed to his experience as a two-term governor and his professional background as proof of his readiness for the country’s top job.
“Let me make this very clear: to serve this country at the highest level, I am qualified — I’m even overqualified,” the governor said. He added, “I ran Oyo State, and even the current president started as governor of Lagos State for two terms. By the end of May 2027, by God’s grace and God sparing my life, I will have completed my tenure as a two-term governor of Oyo State.”
Makinde also highlighted his early career achievements, noting that he managed multinational oil companies including Shell, ExxonMobil, and Chevron at a young age. “At 29, some of my colleagues were still finishing their youth service. I was already running a company. I never relied on NNPC or government connections,” he said.
While affirming his capabilities, the governor admitted it is still early to formally declare a 2027 presidential run. He also criticised the defection of governors and top politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), cautioning that such moves do not serve the country’s democratic interest.
“Governors are defecting from one party to another, but has the hunger and anger of the people also defected?” he asked, highlighting public discontent as a key issue.
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