Oyo Governor Reevaluates 2023 Political Realignment
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has admitted that the political alliance he entered into with President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2023 general election failed to deliver the national unity, fairness, and competent government he expected, declaring openly that he regrets supporting the President.
According to reports by Vanguard News, Governor Makinde made the disclosure during a live radio interview in Ibadan on Sunday while revisiting the circumstances that led him and other aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors to back Tinubu instead of their own party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in 2023.
Motivations Behind the 2023 Alliance
Makinde explained that his decision to support Tinubu—then the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)—was driven by the belief that the incoming administration would assemble capable Nigerians from diverse regions to tackle the nation’s severe challenges, rather than govern along narrow political or regional lines.
The governor emphasized that after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the demand for a southern presidency was a fundamental question of equity. However, internal disagreements had surfaced within the PDP regarding the party’s handling of its presidential candidacy and leadership structure. Makinde noted that the emergence of Atiku, a northerner, alongside Iyorchia Ayu, also from the North-Central, remaining as national chairman, did not address regional balance concerns.
Efforts to resolve the dispute involved meeting with Atiku in London to request the replacement of Ayu with Taofeek Arapaja as acting chairman. When those negotiations stalled, Makinde and fellow aggrieved governors explored alternative political options, ultimately leading to an intermediary linking the group to Tinubu.
Assessing the Tinubu Administration
Reflecting on the performance of the current administration against his initial expectations, Makinde expressed clear dissatisfaction. When asked if the government reflects national competence and unity, the governor responded, “The answer is no.”
Makinde also highlighted specific points of friction, including a ministerial recommendation he made for an Oyo indigene to serve as Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, a portfolio that ultimately went to Adebayo Adelabu as Minister of Power instead. Furthermore, the governor revealed he turned down a request from President Tinubu to help organize the APC in Oyo State, maintaining his loyalty to the PDP.
Defending his decision to publicly acknowledge his regret, Makinde stated that responsible leadership requires a willingness to admit mistakes and apologize when necessary, noting that political decisions can sometimes yield unexpected outcomes.