Former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has cautioned Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, against attempting to install a successor, warning that the people of the state are yearning for a breath of fresh air.
Shittu, who served under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, issued the warning during an interview with The PUNCH.
He described the practice of anointing a loyal successor as an outdated, undemocratic move that holds no place in modern governance.
His comments come roughly a month after Governor Makinde disclosed that he would announce his preferred successor in January 2026.
Makinde made the statement during the 11th Omituntun Ramadan Lecture held at the Government House Arcade in Ibadan.
Speaking in Yoruba, the governor thanked Muslim leaders for their support and urged continued prayers for his administration.
He also playfully addressed popular socialite Abbas Oloko, saying, “I’m not yet a lame duck. Please leave my billboard at Isale Alfa.
“In January 2026, we know that political activities will start. I will tell you the picture of the person that will be installed there,” Makinde said.
But Shittu, who is also eyeing the governorship seat in 2026, vowed to resist any attempt to impose a successor.
He said, “I am praying to God to allow me to exemplify what beneficial government could be and should be. And I believe if I have the opportunity, all other states, by the grace of God, will be coming to learn.”
When reminded that Makinde might make good on his promise to bring in a successor, Shittu dismissed the idea.
“Just ignore Makinde. He is not God. Did anybody ever predict or prophesy that Makinde himself would be a governor? It is God alone who dictates who gets to power. So he can begin to daydream and think that he would be the one to impose his successor.
“I don’t take him seriously about that because I know that God is the one who puts people in power, and he is the one who removes people from power. I am praying to God to be able to benefit from that power to enable me to be governor,” he added.
Shittu also lamented the trend of successive Oyo governors coming from a particular region of the state, describing it as unfair and politically risky.
According to him, just as the North conceded power for national balance, Oyo State must learn to adopt rotational leadership for inclusivity and fairness.
He said, “If we go strictly by population distribution, the North will continue to be President. But we know that it is not in the best interest of a stable polity. But for the fact that the North conceded, out of their magnanimity, President Goodluck Jonathan would not have been President. Jonathan comes from one of the minorities in Nigeria.
“But they conceded to him by way of rotation. Even the current President, if the North had not conceded to him, would find it difficult. If it strictly comes down to tribal voting, a Yoruba man would never have been President. So, we are saying that over the last 30 years, out of the seven or so governors we have had in Oyo State, six are indigenes of Ibadan.
“Only Akala from Ogbomoso became governor by default because there was an impeachment of an Ibadan governor at that time, Rashidi Ladoja. So, he was deputy and he became the governor. So, what we are saying is, let this thing move around because we have seven zones in Oyo State. Ibadan has 11 local governments. Oke-Ogun has 10, Ogbomoso has 5. Ibarapa has 3. Oyo has 4.”
Continuing, Shittu stressed that although Ibadan accounts for around 52% of the population, not all residents are indigenes of the city.
He insisted that power rotation is the only way to end the marginalisation of other regions and foster unity.
“I mean, there are Okeho, Ijebus, Egbas, Ijeshas, and all kinds of people from other tribes living there too. We know Ibadan is a potpourri of settlements. So, what we are saying is, let this thing go around. Ibadan has produced about six governors in the last 30 years. Let the thing move around for people from other sections to have a sense of belonging.”
“You can imagine if Tinubu had not been allowed to become president, Nigeria would not have been as politically stable as it is now. From my little experience, and I am saying this with all sense of humility and sincerity, during Akala’s government, the Ibadan people really enjoyed it because no non-Ibadan would be governor and want to do anything to dissatisfy Ibadan people.”
“They would want to satisfy them so they wouldn’t feel they are being marginalised. If the table were to turn and it was Ibadan that had not had this opportunity, of course, there would be agitations. Many of us, including someone like me, for instance, have been living in Ibadan for 45 years now. I have at least two houses there. I have an office and a residence.
“In fact, I also have a third house by one of my wives in the same Ibadan. I have played all my politics more in the region. Again, three Ibadan daughters have children for me, a total of 13 children, who are partly Ibadan and partly Shaki and so on and so forth. So, I am not a stranger. But since we see that this disequilibrium has negative political potential in the feelings of people from other zones, I think we must make a deliberate effort to ensure that the thing is rotated,” he argued.
Efforts to get a response from Governor Makinde’s media aide, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, proved abortive.
Although he promised to respond, he failed to reply to follow-up messages sent for clarification.
