In the last week episode of Editor’s Diary, it was highlighted that Lagos state has continued to outshine other states in the Nigeria in terms of economic viability, policy cohesion, and sustained political ideology under one political party. This was followed up by the fact that Lagos State has long stood out as the benchmark for sustained growth, driven by political leadership driven by vision consistency.
This stability has allowed for the uninterrupted execution of long-term plans, attracting investment, raising Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and transforming Lagos into West Africa’s economic capital. Lagos political leadership didn’t achieve this feat alone. The people; the electorate allowed it via intentionality, commitment, and determination to sustain a working vision under a political ideology of the ruling party.
Also, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, it was highlighted that Oyo State is already demonstrating what visionary, inclusive, and data-driven governance can achieve in a short time ranging from infrastructure and agribusiness to healthcare and land administration to security, economic transformation, and other critical sectors, the state is rapidly becoming a national model for sustainable development.
Lagos’ developmental success did not happen by accident. It is deeply rooted in unbroken leadership ideology since 1999, strategic governance succession, from Bola Tinubu to Sanwo-Olu, and implementation of long-term policies across administrations.These conditions enabled a rise in monthly IGR from ₦600 million in 1999 to over ₦60 billion in 2024, infrastructure expansion like Lekki Port, Blue Rail Line, and Eko Atlantic, the consolidation of Lagos as a hub for tech startups, logistics, real estate, and finance.
In contrast, Oyo State had been plagued by inconsistent political leadership until 2019.
As the 2027 governorship election now approaches faster than anticipated, Oyo state is yet at another political crossroads. The 2027 contest is not just about which party wins the polls, it is now a decisive referendum between preserving the developmental and transformational legacies of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde or hitting the reset button to embrace a new political order under a new political party.
Simply put, it is at its core, a test of the people’s endorsement of Makinde’s reform-driven, people-oriented governance or their readiness to gamble on a fresh start. The people’s decision in 2027 will define Oyo state with its current progressively enviable economic status as being living in the era referred to in street parlance as “politics of gbegiri ati ewedu” or remain on a steady path to catch up with the rest of the world.
Let’s be reasonably analytical. Under Makinde’s leadership since 2019, Oyo has undergone what many describe as a renaissance in infrastructure, civil service reform, education, justice, and institutional development. But as the clock ticks toward 2027, opposition forces are mobilising to challenge this trajectory, arguing for a new approach. The people must now decide: Will Oyo deepen its transformation or begin anew?
The Makinde Doctrine: Performance and Pragmatism
Governor Seyi Makinde’s approach to governance combines visionary planning with technocratic execution. Through his administration’s Omituntun 2.0 blueprint, Makinde has invested in sectors critical to the growth and sustainability of Oyo’s economy and society.
Some of his administration’s key achievements other than those highlighted in the last episode include:
Infrastructure: From the Moniya-Iseyin Road to the ambitious Ibadan Circular Road, over 368.9 kilometres of roads have been delivered in two years. According to Works Commissioner Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, during a recently held midterm inter ministerial press briefing, the Circular Road is designed as Nigeria’s first full-scale motorway, with its 32km South-East Wing nearly 70% complete and due for commissioning before the end of 2025.
Public Transportation: Bus terminals, the Park Management System (PMS), and improved inner-city roads have reshaped mobility across the state, thereby reducing man-hours lost to traffic and improving logistics for businesses.
Energy and Security: The Light-Up Oyo project, which has installed solar-powered streetlights across major routes, has enhanced night-time security and boosted socio-economic activity making the state’s ambition of steady growth in IGR a realistic venture.
Judiciary and Rule of Law: The administration has fortified the justice sector by establishing the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority, OYACA (Anti-Corruption Agency), and OYMASED (Mobilisation Agency for Socio-economic Development). These institutions ensure adherence to due process and empower citizens to understand and assert their rights.
In strengthening these institutions, one of Makinde’s most enduring legacies may well be the transformation of the civil service into a more professional, accountable, and efficient workforce.
At the recent inter-ministerial briefing, Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Prof. Salihu AbdulWaheed Adelabu, while providing scorecard for his ministry, equally laid out the depth of reforms in the state’s public service.
According to him, monthly gratuity payments have risen from ₦206 million in 2019 to ₦1 billion in 2025, with over ₦13 billion paid to 7,250 retirees. An additional ₦1 billion monthly goes to primary school and local government retirees which indicates that the governor has committed himself to clearing all outstanding pension debts by 2027 and making governance more than comfortable for his successor to be.
He also alluded to the fact that transition to electronic pension payments, digitisation of retirement documents, abolition of the ₦4,000 retirement form fee, and ISO-based management reforms have all underpinned a drive for transparency and accountability under the present government.
Capacity Building: Regular confirmation and promotion exams, in-service training support, internship programmes, and ISO-aligned manpower audits ensure a motivated and future-ready civil service, Prof Adelabu submitted.
Prof. Adelabu summed it up aptly thus: “The Ministry’s progress aligns seamlessly with the vision and reform agenda of Governor Seyi Makinde. We have demonstrated consistent commitment to revitalising the state civil service through forward-thinking policies.”
Despite the governor’s towering performance metrics however, the opposition, especially the All Progressives Congress (APC) has seen 2027 as an opportunity to end PDP’s dominance and offer a new vision. After defeats in 2019 and 2023, APC leaders are under pressure to consolidate factions, inspire public confidence, and field a candidate who not only challenges Makinde’s anointed successor but also presents a compelling alternative to the people.
Critics also argued that the Makinde administration is too reliant on debt, project delivery is concentrated in urban centers, while political centralization has eroded checks and balances.
We must bear in mind that other parties like the Labour Party (LP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) are also positioning themselves as third-force alternatives, appealing especially to youth, civil society, and reform-minded demography.
However, the ultimate decision will rest with the voters, who are now more engaged, informed, and demanding than ever. From Ibadan to Ogbomoso, Ibarapa to Oke-Ogun, citizens will weigh continuity against uncertainty and experience against experiment.
Key questions they must confront include: can PDP present a Makinde-aligned candidate capable of consolidating the gains without pushing any additional burden to the people bear while calling for patience, will a divided opposition finally unite around a message strong enough to overturn an already well-rooted administration, or will voters prioritize familiarity with results over the allure of radical change?
In all of these, we must acknowledge that zoning considerations, the role of traditional and religious institutions, youth mobilisation, and regional balance will play critical roles in shaping the eventual outcome.
Governor Makinde’s influence on 2027 cannot be overstated. As a political figure with national relevance and internal clout, his endorsement could tip the scales. However, the sustainability of his legacy will depend on how well he balances party unity and succession planning, avoidance of internal fractures, and his ability to inspire the same public confidence in his successor.
If he manages this transition effectively, Oyo could enter a rare period of policy continuity across administrations, something sorely lacking in Nigeria’s political history.
From the foregoing, it is evidently clear that the 2027 governorship election is not merely a political event. It is a defining moment for Oyo State’s collective destiny.
Will the people build upon the enduring structures of Makinde’s infrastructural, institutional, and governance legacy, or will they risk the unknown in pursuit of something different?
Makinde’s administration has not only laid roads and built institutions, it has shifted the governance narrative in Oyo toward performance, planning, and citizen-focus. But the test of legacy is not what a leader starts, it’s what survives after he leaves.
In 2027, Oyo will decide whether to deepen that legacy or reset it. Either way, the pendulum swings, Oyo 2027 will be remembered as a referendum on trust, progress, and the vision for a modern Oyo State.