A chieftain of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Alhaji Bisi Olopoeyan, has criticised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over his remarks urging Nigerians to vote for physically fit candidates, describing the governor’s behaviour as childish.
Olopoeyan made the remarks while reacting to Makinde’s performance at an APM town hall meeting in Akure, Ondo State, where the governor reportedly jumped down from the stage to demonstrate his physical strength.
Makinde had urged Nigerians to vote for candidates who possess the energy and physical fitness required to govern the country, challenging other aspirants to demonstrate similar strength.
However, Olopoeyan questioned the relevance of such a demonstration to leadership, arguing that physical agility should not be the standard for determining a candidate’s ability to govern.
In a video circulating online, the APM chieftain also compared Makinde’s age with that of President Bola Tinubu, arguing that the two politicians belonged to different age groups.
“Seyi Makinde acts like a child sometimes; is jumping what they use for governance? Is Tinubu the same age as Seyi Makinde? Or will he not grow old again?” Olopoeyan said.
He further questioned whether the presidency required physical displays such as jumping, wrestling or boxing, insisting that political candidates should focus on presenting their plans and policies to Nigerians.
“Tinubu’s firstborn is older than Makinde. Is it jumping they use in governance?” he asked.
Olopoeyan also accused Makinde of repeatedly mentioning Tinubu during political engagements instead of explaining what he intended to achieve if elected president.
“There is no campaign he can do other than name-dropping Tinubu. He should tell us what he can do,” he said.
The APM chieftain further questioned whether Makinde’s late father would have been able to perform the same physical demonstration, using the remark to reinforce his argument that physical strength should not be the primary consideration in choosing a national leader.
Makinde’s comments have sparked reactions among political figures and supporters, with the debate focusing on the relevance of age, physical fitness and leadership capacity ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
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