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In a nation where hope often flickers under the weight of broken promises and underwhelming leadership, the story of Governor Seyi Makinde stands tall as a refreshing exception.
He is not just the governor of Oyo State; he is a symbol of integrity, excellence, and people-first governance, qualities that Nigerians have long yearned for in a national leader.
In a time when Nigeria needs visionary, transparent, and competent leadership more than ever, Makinde has steadily emerged as one of the most admired political figures of this generation, a leader who leads by example and delivers with conscience.
Governor Seyi Makinde is not your typical politician.
He brings to governance a rare combination of technical expertise and human compassion.
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An accomplished engineer and successful entrepreneur before venturing into politics, Makinde has demonstrated how knowledge, discipline, and a deep understanding of systems can produce transformative leadership.
He doesn’t govern to impress the media or pander to party interests.
He governs to impact lives, to develop institutions, and to create a better society.
His leadership style is rooted in humility, intelligence, and results. Traits that Nigerians desperately crave in a national figure.
Nigerians are weary of leaders who treat public funds as personal spoils. But in Makinde, we find a leader who has proven that transparency is possible, even in an environment long plagued by corruption and secrecy.
His declaration of assets upon taking office in 2019 set a bold example for public accountability.
His administration’s open budget system and procurement processes have raised the bar for good governance in Nigeria.
Makinde has mastered the art of doing more with less, prudent in spending, meticulous in planning, and intentional in implementation.
Under his watch, Oyo State has maintained a healthy balance between capital projects and recurrent expenditure without plunging the state into unsustainable debt.
The true measure of a leader lies in the lives touched, the burdens lifted, and the opportunities created for the common man.
Governor Makinde has consistently demonstrated that governance must prioritize the people.
From free and qualitative education in public schools, to the revitalization of primary healthcare centres, to massive investments in agribusiness, Makinde has always placed human development above political calculations.
His decision to pay living wages, introduce a 13th-month salary, and approve a ₦25,000 monthly allowance for civil servants after fuel subsidy removal reveals a man in tune with the struggles of everyday Nigerians.
He listens, he acts, and he delivers.
Unlike many politicians who play divisive politics, Makinde’s leadership is defined by inclusion, tolerance, and meritocracy.
He does not see development through the lens of party loyalty but through the prism of justice and fairness.
His appointments reflect balance, his policies promote equity, and his political engagement avoids needless confrontations.
He respects institutions and encourages young people to participate actively in governance.
In fact, many of his cabinet members and appointees are youths and technocrats, a reflection of his belief in the power of fresh ideas.
Nigerians want a national leader who is bigger than party, region, or religion, someone who unites rather than divides. Makinde fits that mold.
Governor Makinde is one of the few political leaders in Nigeria who understands the power of innovation and technology in driving development.
His administration’s digitization of the education system, healthcare records, and civil service processes has positioned Oyo State as one of the most tech-forward states in the country.
He has pushed for energy reform, launching a hybrid power plant and working toward energy independence for the state, a bold move that could revolutionize power supply if replicated nationally.
Makinde’s push for innovation in governance is evidence that he doesn’t govern with yesterday’s tools.
What distinguishes Governor Makinde is not just what he says or does, but how he does it.
In a political climate often dominated by noise and chaos, Makinde stands out for his calm, composed, and resolute personality.
He does not seek applause. He lets his work speak. His refusal to engage in petty political fights or distractive controversies has allowed him to focus entirely on performance and policy.
Even in the face of opposition or pressure, he remains steady and principled, a trait that inspires confidence.
His mature temperament is exactly what Nigeria needs in its highest office, a leader who doesn’t react emotionally but responds strategically.
In just six years, Makinde has accomplished what many politicians fail to achieve in decades.
His legacy is already evident across Oyo State: Over 335 kilometers of roads constructed and rehabilitated, thousands of jobs created through agriculture, education, and ICT, Healthcare and education systems revitalized and restructured, Security architecture modernized through support for Amotekun and other agencies, steady economic growth and rising investor confidence, a clean record of probity, inclusiveness, and empathy.
These are not campaign slogans. They are verifiable results, tangible footprints of leadership at its best.
If Nigeria is to rise from the ashes of underdevelopment, it must do so under the watch of men and women who understand what it means to lead with vision, empathy, and excellence.
Governor Seyi Makinde has set a standard, and his model is one that Nigeria must adopt if it truly wants to move forward.
In Makinde, we find a leader who combines youthful energy with experience, innovation with accountability, compassion with strength, and performance with reform.
He does not belong to the past; he represents the future, a future where leaders serve, not rule; where progress is shared, not hoarded; and where power is used, not abused.
Governor Seyi Makinde may be the governor of a single state, but his leadership style, values, and achievements transcend geographical boundaries.
He exemplifies the kind of leadership Nigerians desire, and more importantly, deserve at the national level.
At a time when Nigeria is searching for a beacon to light the path forward, Makinde’s integrity, vision, and humility make him a natural choice.
He doesn’t just hold a position; he carries a mission, a mission to prove that governance can work, and that it can work for the people.
Indeed, Governor Seyi Makinde embodies the qualities Nigerians desire in a national leader and should destiny call him to a higher office, it would not be by coincidence, but by merit.
Kazim Adeyinka Adeniyi Bibire writes from Ibadan North Local Government
