“Heaven didn’t fall” — Makinde defends 2027 bid, citing Obasanjo-Falae

Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has defended his decision to contest the 2027 presidential election against President Bola Tinubu, arguing that the South-West can produce more than one presidential candidate.

Mr Makinde cited the 1999 presidential election, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olu Falae, both from the South-West, contested against each other.

He said the precedent demonstrated that the emergence of two presidential candidates from the same geopolitical zone was neither unusual nor detrimental to the region.

The governor spoke on Thursday at the APM South-West Town Hall Meeting in Akure, Ondo State.

Mr Makinde said he had been asked why he was seeking the presidency when Mr Tinubu, also from the South-West, was already occupying the position.

He responded by recalling the 1999 election, when the region presented Obasanjo and Falae as competing presidential candidates.

“In 1999, the entire Nigeria ceded the presidency to the South-West, and we had two of our fathers, Baba President Obasanjo and Baba Olu Falae, contest the presidency, both from the South-West. And heaven did not fall,” Mr Makinde said.

He argued that the arrangement gave Nigerians the opportunity to choose between two candidates based on their competence and capacity.

“As a matter of fact, what the South-West did was to present two of their finest, two of their best, for Nigeria to choose from. Is there anything wrong with us this time around?” he asked.

Makinde: Competence should Trump geography

The governor said the choice of Nigeria’s next president should not be determined solely by geographical considerations.

He maintained that voters should assess candidates based on their competence, capacity and ability to provide effective governance.

Mr Makinde said his presidential ambition was driven by the desire to offer Nigerians an alternative leadership capable of addressing the country’s economic, security and developmental challenges.

He also urged South-West voters to reject what he described as the politics of deceit, saying his campaign would focus on his record in Oyo State and his plans for Nigeria rather than attacks on political opponents.

Governor questions federal spending

Mr Makinde also criticised the Federal Government over the reported journey of Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, from New York to Abuja to present the UN budget to President Tinubu.

The governor questioned the need for the trip, arguing that public funds should not be spent unnecessarily.

He also questioned the implementation of Nigeria’s national budgets, asking which fiscal year’s budget the Federal Government was currently operating.

“Is it the 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026 budget?” Mr Makinde asked.

‘I’ll make energy the issue’

On concerns about the age of presidential candidates, Mr Makinde said he would not make age a major campaign issue but would focus on energy and stamina.

He said the rigours of the presidency required a leader capable of working long hours and coping with the demands of office.

Mr Makinde subsequently challenged other presidential candidates to demonstrate similar physical stamina during the campaign.

“When they bring their own presidential candidates, let the candidates come here and also jump down. If they can do that, vote for them,” he said.

The governor then jumped from the stage at the Akure event, using the gesture to underscore his argument about physical energy and stamina.

Makinde’s 2027 campaign

Mr Makinde’s defence of his candidacy comes amid growing political debates over the South-West’s role in the 2027 presidential contest, particularly with Tinubu seeking re-election.

While Mr Tinubu is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Makinde is seeking the presidency under the APM.

The Oyo governor has positioned his campaign around what he describes as an alternative leadership agenda, with emphasis on economic growth, security, education and national development.