Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has explained his decision to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, despite supporting his candidacy in the 2023 polls.
Makinde made the clarification in his latest newsletter,
titled “RESET NIGERIA”, in which he disclosed his plan to contest the
presidency on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM.
“I supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023. Today, I
am running against him in the 2027 presidential election,” he wrote.
The governor said some people had questioned what changed
between his support for Tinubu and his decision to oppose him, with others
suggesting that the two politicians might have had a personal disagreement.
“Some people have asked what changed. Others believe there
must have been a personal disagreement between us.
“I understand why they would think that. But my decision is
not about a personal disagreement or an ambition to occupy Aso Rock. It is
about the future of Nigeria and the opportunities available to Nigerians,”
Makinde stated.
He explained that he supported Tinubu in 2023 because he
believed the President could unite Nigerians, establish a government based on
national unity and competence, and address the country's economic challenges.
However, Makinde said his assessment of the administration
had changed three years into its tenure.
“Three years later, I no longer believe his administration
is taking us in that direction. To explain why this matters so much to me, I
need to tell you a little about myself,” he said.
The governor said he grew up in a lower-middle-class family,
with his father working as a teacher before retraining as an accountant, while
his mother served as a civil servant and telephone operator.
“We were not wealthy. But we lived in a Nigeria where an
ordinary family could reasonably believe that education, hard work and
determination would give their children a better life,” he said.
Makinde said he attended Bishop Phillips Academy in Ibadan
before studying Electrical Engineering at the University of Lagos, UNILAG.
He added that his education enabled him to build a career in
engineering, specialising in industrial measurement and safety systems.
“At 29, I established Makon Engineering and Technical
Services,” he said.
According to him, the company started as a small business
before expanding beyond Nigeria, stressing that his success was not the result
of coming from a wealthy or politically connected family.
“I had an education, acquired useful skills, found
opportunities and worked to make the most of them,” Makinde said.
He argued that the opportunities he enjoyed while growing up
were becoming increasingly difficult for young Nigerians to access.
“And that is what troubles me about the Nigeria we have
today. How many young Nigerians can confidently expect the same opportunities?
“How many can complete their education, acquire useful
skills, find meaningful work or start a business with a reasonable expectation
that it will succeed?
“How many parents can confidently tell their children that
if they work hard and do the right things, they will have a better life?” he
asked.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com