Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has downplayed the political impact of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the party remains strong and unshaken. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in Akure, Makinde emphasized that Atiku’s departure poses no threat to the PDP’s stability or future. According to him, the PDP is a well-rooted institution where people are free to come and go, and such movements do not weaken its foundation.
Makinde, who served as the keynote speaker at a colloquium celebrating the 10th coronation anniversary of Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, the Deji of Akure, also dismissed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a political party with no real threat to the PDP. He described it as just another participant in the electoral process, not a force capable of disrupting the PDP’s dominance.
During the lecture titled “The Role of Nigeria’s Traditional Institutions in Nation Building: Impediments, Impacts, and Prospects,” the governor underscored the importance of traditional institutions in Nigeria’s development. He said these institutions are not outdated remnants but essential structures that provide legitimacy, preserve identity, and foster community unity.
Makinde noted that long before formal government systems were established, traditional rulers were at the heart of justice delivery, value enforcement, and local security. Today, he said, they still hold the trust of their communities and play a vital role in national cohesion. Ignoring them, he warned, would be detrimental to effective nation-building.
He further explained that his administration in Oyo State has successfully integrated traditional institutions into the governance system, which has strengthened local leadership and improved results in policy execution. For Makinde, true nation-building relies not on oil revenue but on robust institutions that serve people fairly and leave behind lasting legacies.
In response, Oba Aladetoyinbo expressed appreciation for Makinde’s leadership and reiterated the critical role of traditional institutions in shaping Nigeria’s future. He called for constitutional reforms to give traditional rulers greater authority and recognition in national governance. The monarch also praised the unity in Akure and thanked the state government and the town’s indigenes for their continued support of the Deji palace.
