Governor Seyi Makinde has said his administration is driven by competence and capacity rather than party affiliation, insisting that governance under his leadership is not defined by political loyalty or partisan boundaries.
Makinde stated this on Wednesday at University of Ibadan while reacting to concerns over his administration’s engagement with individuals linked to the opposition All Progressives Congress.
The governor specifically addressed criticisms surrounding the involvement of Bimbo Adekanmbi and Dr Morohunkola Thomas in the state’s political and administrative space.
According to him, his administration prioritises individuals who possess the competence and ability to contribute meaningfully to the development of Oyo State, regardless of political background.
Makinde argued that governance should be measured by performance and effectiveness rather than party identity.
Reacting to criticisms over his decision to work with figures associated with the APC, the governor questioned the opposition’s internal capacity-building process.
When Moronkola Thomas was talking, he said, after Seyi Makinde, there should be Bimbo Adekanmbi continuity, blah, blah, blah. (0:16) But gbogbo won APC background ini won.
“And people said, Oh Seyi, you cannot mentor someone this seven years that you have been in government that can take over from you that doesnt have the taint of APC.
Makinde maintained that political or regional affiliations do not determine eligibility for service under his administration if the individual has the required competence..
“For us, If you are from Oyo State and you are loyal to Oyo State and you have the capacity, we will tap you to support the development of Oyo State.”
The governor further noted that his administration already has capable individuals from different political backgrounds working together for the state’s progress.
“For every Thomas, there is Segun Ogunwuyi. For every Adekanmbi, there is Prof. Babatunde. We are blind to party colouration, we are open to capacity that can move Oyo State forward,” he added.
Makinde’s remarks come amid growing political discussions in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with several names already being speculated as possible successors.
Watch the video below:
𝐖𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐬 𝐎𝐟𝐟 𝐀𝐏𝐂 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐦
Credit: X | Oyoaffairs
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Hannah Johnson is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over three years of professional experience in reporting, storytelling, and digital content creation. She blends traditional reporting skills with a modern, digital-first approach to journalism, producing content tailored for both web and social platforms. Hannah is skilled at turning complex topics into clear, engaging, and relatable stories that resonate with a wide audience. Her work reflects hands-on newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a strong commitment to accurate, audience-focused journalism.
