Governance Under My Leadership Not Based On Party Loyalty — Makinde

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has declared that his administration is driven by competence and capacity rather than party affiliation, stressing that governance under his leadership is not defined by political loyalty or partisan boundaries.

Makinde made the remark on Wednesday at University of Ibadan while addressing concerns over his administration’s engagement with individuals linked to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), including Bimbo Adekanmbi and Dr Morohunkola Thomas, whose roles in the state’s political and administrative space have continued to generate public discussion.

The governor insisted that his focus remains on identifying and working with individuals who have the ability to contribute meaningfully to the development of Oyo State, regardless of their political background.

According to him, the success of governance should not be tied to party identity but to the quality and effectiveness of those entrusted with responsibilities.

Reacting to criticisms over his decision to work with figures associated with the APC, Makinde questioned the internal capacity-building process within opposition ranks, arguing that political experience alone does not guarantee administrative value.

“So you have been in APC for seven years and you can’t mentor someone that can function without APC?” he said, in a pointed remark directed at critics of his appointments.

He specifically referenced Adekanmbi and Thomas, noting that his administration evaluates individuals based on competence rather than political classification.

In his words, “political or regional labels do not define eligibility for service under his government if the required capacity is present.

“For me, I don’t run a party government, I run a capacity government. If you are from this state, loyal, and you have the capacity, we will tap you.”

Makinde argued that his administration already had a pool of capable individuals across different political backgrounds, stressing that governance must remain focused on performance and delivery rather than partisan sentiment.

“For every Thomas, there is Segun Ogunwuyi. For every Adekanmbi, there is Prof. Babatunde. We are open to capacity that can move Oyo State forward,” he added.

The governor’s comments come amid ongoing political discussions in Oyo State over succession ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with several names already being speculated as potential contenders.

His remarks have also continued to generate debate within political circles, particularly over the increasing involvement of opposition-linked figures in key roles within his administration.