Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has urged the people of Ondo State to express their frustrations with the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the upcoming governorship election by voting for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said the party remains solid despite the resignation of former presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking during a media chat in Akure at the 10th anniversary of the reign of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, Makinde dismissed concerns that Atiku’s departure would hurt the PDP. He described politics as a matter of personal interest and insisted that the PDP, as an institution, is not dependent on any single individual. “People come and go. Anyone who feels they are holding the party down should leave. It’s better for the PDP,” he stated.
Makinde also brushed off concerns about the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) being a threat, stressing that parties with similar goals should work towards improving governance. He reminded Nigerians that leaders will come and go, but the country remains, and its progress must be everyone’s concern.
During his lecture at the event, titled “The Role of Nigeria’s Traditional Institutions in Nation Building: Impediments, Impacts, and Prospects,” Makinde called for a constitutional role for traditional rulers. He explained that his administration in Oyo State has already integrated royal institutions into governance, especially in matters of security and intelligence.
He highlighted how legal clarity on succession has reduced conflict and improved public trust in traditional leadership. “Our royal fathers are not spectators. They play active roles in community peace and serve as valuable partners in development,” Makinde said.
The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi, commended the state’s support for the palace and stressed that traditional rulers are vital to national development. He called for their roles to be strengthened in the Nigerian Constitution.
Contributing to the discussion, Professor Adedayo Afe of Adekunle Ajasin University advocated for a national law on royal succession to limit undue interference by state governors. Ondo State’s Attorney General, Kayode Ajulo, SAN, also called for the recognition of traditional institutions in the Constitution and emphasized the need for proper funding and training of traditional rulers in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
