Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared his strong support for the Not-Too-Young-To-Lead initiative, subtly signaling that his successor in 2027 could emerge from the younger generation.
Speaking at the 70th birthday and 50th ministry anniversary of Rev. (Dr.) Moses and Pastor (Mrs.) Funmilayo Aransiola, held on Friday at the University of Ibadan’s International Conference Centre, the governor emphasized the need to give Nigerian youths more opportunities to participate in leadership and governance.
“I became governor at 51 and yet, I remain the youngest democratically elected governor in the history of Oyo State. After my emergence, I also produced the youngest Speaker in the state’s history, who is currently the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers in Nigeria. So, I will support the Not-Too-Young-To-Lead agenda fully,” Makinde said.
Beyond succession politics, Governor Makinde used the occasion to make a passionate call for national rebirth, charging Nigerians to move out of their comfort zones and work actively toward nation-building.
He said, “I have heard people say Nigeria will be great. I believe it too. But greatness will not come through mere wishes. We must all work towards it. People assume things cannot remain like this for 100 years, but they can — just look at the Democratic Republic of Congo, where crisis has persisted for over 60 years.”
Makinde lamented Nigeria’s trend of perpetual transition from one crisis to another, noting that without sincere engagement from the citizenry in politics and governance, the cycle would continue.
“If you say the problem is leadership, who are the leaders? They come from among us. If you don’t participate in politics, you get the kind of leadership you deserve,” he added. “We must all get involved — even if people call us names. That’s the only way to clean the system.”
Governor Makinde also stressed the importance of productivity, pointing out that Nigeria’s abundant natural resources would not yield prosperity without a focus on value creation.
According to him, “We need to move from just owning resources to being productive. That is the only way our economy can grow sustainably.”
In his goodwill message, former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, advocated for the urgent restructuring of Nigeria, warning that the current political structure is a stumbling block to national progress.
Renowned constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate, Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who delivered the keynote address titled “Nigeria: From Where Comes Our Help?” decried the rampant insecurity, corruption, and governance failures in the country.
He, however, lauded Governor Makinde’s leadership, particularly his security interventions such as the establishment of the Amotekun Corps, which has contributed significantly to protecting lives and property in Oyo State.
The event was graced by top dignitaries, including the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, represented by the state’s Head of Service, members of the Oyo State Executive Council, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and captains of industry.