Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said he is qualified to lead Nigeria, amid growing speculation over his possible presidential ambition.
Makinde made the remark on Tuesday during a media parley with select journalists in Ibadan, citing both his executive experience as governor and his professional background as proof of his readiness to serve at the highest level.
“Let me make this very clear: to serve this country at the highest level, I am qualified, even overqualified,” the governor said.
He compared his political trajectory with that of President Bola Tinubu, noting that both had served two terms as state governors.
“I have governed Oyo State, and even the current president, what brought him to the table? He was a two-term governor of Lagos State. By the end of May 2027, by God’s grace, I would have completed my full tenure as a two-term governor of Oyo State,” Makinde said.
The governor also highlighted his professional experience before entering politics, saying he had built a successful career at a young age.
“Professionally, I ran a company from a very young age. At 29, some of my peers were still completing their National Youth Service. I built a company without patronage from NNPC or similar agencies. I worked with multinational oil companies such as Shell, ExxonMobil, and Chevron,” he said.
While asserting his credentials, Makinde stressed that it was still premature to make a definitive statement about the 2027 presidential election.
He also underscored the need for a strong opposition, warning that the wave of defections by governors and senior politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could weaken Nigeria’s democracy.
“People are defecting from one party to another, but have hunger and anger in the land also defected?” the governor asked.
