When Governor Seyi Makinde assumed office in 2019, few believed he would last beyond a single term. A technocrat with minimal roots in Oyo’s entrenched political circles, his candidacy was regarded by many as an experiment — one that, at best, might make a modest impact. Six years later, it is clear that Makinde has not only survived — he has redefined governance in Oyo State and positioned the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for decades of electoral relevance.
This is not a partisan wish or romanticized rhetoric. It is a sober assessment based on empirical results and public sentiment. Governor Makinde’s administration has delivered in ways that resonate deeply with the aspirations of everyday citizens. The PDP, under his leadership, has transitioned from a political vehicle to a governance institution — and therein lies the key to its long-term dominance.
Makinde’s model has demonstrated that political power can serve public purpose. In education, where slogans have often replaced substance, his administration took a bold route: abolishing school fees, restoring free education in public schools, distributing instructional materials, and recruiting nearly 20,000 new teachers. This was not a cosmetic policy shift — it was structural reform. Public confidence in government schools has grown steadily, evidenced by a surge in enrollment across urban and rural areas.
As Nobel laureate Amartya Sen rightly noted, “Development is freedom — freedom from illiteracy, poor health, and economic marginalization.” In line with this vision, the Makinde administration placed social development at the heart of its agenda. The results are visible. Health facilities have been rehabilitated. Primary healthcare centers in underserved areas now function with greater efficiency. In turn, citizens, especially the poor, are reconnecting with government through services that matter.
Beyond social services, Makinde has redefined how infrastructure shapes political capital. Signature roads — Moniya–Iseyin, Ogbomoso–Iseyin, Akobo–Ojurin, and others — have become more than transportation corridors. They have emerged as arteries of economic activity, connecting farm belts to urban markets and shrinking travel time across zones. What used to be political promises in glossy manifestos are now tangible projects used daily by ordinary people.
Critics often say that infrastructure alone does not guarantee political loyalty. That is true. But what distinguishes this administration is its strategic alignment — infrastructure that connects with economic purpose. Roads are built where trade happens. Schools are renovated where youth populations are growing. Health centers are restored in high-demand clusters. This is governance with logic — not politics with panic.
Oyo, like much of Nigeria, has not been immune to the national insecurity challenge. But Makinde responded with both pragmatism and innovation. The establishment of the Amotekun Corps — a regional security outfit backed by law — brought policing closer to the people. In areas like Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun, where security had collapsed, the presence of Amotekun has re-established a sense of local confidence. Data from the Oyo State Security Network Agency confirms a drop in rural banditry and cross-border attacks since Amotekun began full operations.
No one claims that Amotekun is a silver bullet. But it signals something rare in Nigerian governance — responsiveness. A willingness to act, not pontificate.
In fiscal management, Makinde’s administration has achieved growth without imposing new pain. From a monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of ₦1.7 billion in 2019, Oyo now records over ₦3.8 billion monthly as of 2023 — a 123% increase, achieved without raising tax rates. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Oyo is among the top-performing states in IGR growth without unsustainable debt exposure. That is not just policy success — it is financial stewardship.
Behind this leap is a quiet revolution: digitization of revenue collection, plugging of leakages, and better oversight of tax inflows. For a state with a history of fiscal opacity, this marks a turning point.
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But perhaps the most significant shift is perceptual. Speak to ordinary citizens — in Ibadan markets, Ogbomoso town halls, or Saki farmlands — and you will hear something uncommon: cautious optimism. Not blind praise. Not idealism. But a belief that government is trying, and in many areas, delivering. In a country where apathy is growing, this is political gold.
In politics, hope is a currency. And Governor Makinde has earned enough of it to give his party a durable advantage.
As 2027 draws near, the real question is no longer whether PDP can win Oyo again. The question is how the party manages succession. Will it prioritize competence, continuity, and credibility — or fall into the familiar trap of godfatherism and factional horse-trading? With a visionary, compassionate and listening successor like Governor Seyi Makinde, PDP will govern Oyo state for another 20 years.
To squander the Makinde legacy would be tragic, not just for the PDP, but for Oyo State. If nurtured properly, this legacy can serve as a platform for inter-generational development and a blueprint for future PDP leaders in the region.
The 2027 election will not just be about personalities; it will be a referendum on governance. Has the system worked? Has the party delivered? The answer, today, is yes. Whether that remains true tomorrow depends on choices made in the years ahead.
As British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once noted, “The secret of success is constancy of purpose.” For the PDP in Oyo, that purpose is now clear — institutionalize reform, entrench capacity, and continue the trajectory.
Governor Makinde’s legacy is not just about roads and revenues; it is about resetting the DNA of governance in Oyo. That legacy, if wisely nurtured, will ensure that PDP remains more than a ruling party, it becomes a governing tradition. May His Excellency Engr. Seyi Makinde FNSE Succeed beyond 2027.
Dr. Temitope Oladimeji (OTOPE) is the Founder of OTOPE Foundation and a Chieftain of the PDP from Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency. He writes from OTOPE Crescent, Olunloyo Area, Ona-Ara Local Government, Oyo State.
