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| Governor Seyi Makinde |
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State expressed his views on Nigeria's political landscape during the National Executive Retreat of PFN (Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria) in Ibadan. Addressing the audience, Governor Makinde emphasized the need for a single term structure, highlighting the potential impact that can be made within five or six years. He called for a change in approach to politics and encouraged citizens to actively engage in the process for a better future.
Daily Trust reports that Governor
Makinde asserted that while four years might not be sufficient to fully realize
one's goals, it is ample time to make a significant impact. He drew parallels
between this notion and the prospects of a single term structure in Nigeria. He
noted, "I am a supporter of a single term structure. As a matter of fact,
I did not want any second term and I told the fathers of faith that four years
is not enough to do everything that you want to do, but it is long enough to
make your own impact and go your own way."
He also emphasized the importance of the citizenry actively participating in
partisan politics to shape their preferred outcomes in elections. He stated,
"If we continue to make decisions based on those who are not as
intelligent as us, those decisions are binding on all of us." He urged
Nigerians to participate proactively in the political process, rather than
waiting until the election year to effect change.
The topic of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket from the previous election
arose in Governor Makinde's speech. He discussed the dissatisfaction it
generated among some members of the Christendom and suggested that the time had
come for a different approach. Governor Makinde shared his own experiences with
the choice of a running mate, stating,
“The fathers of faith came to me and said that they don’t want a
Muslim-Muslim ticket, we have an issue with it, I said well, tell me, where is
the structure for your preference? I asked them. If you can show me the
structure, then you have me. But also, let’s take a step back, because the
party I belonged to choose a Muslim and a colleague of mine then, the governor
of Delta State as a running mate.
“I said okay, this is very similar to where we were coming from in this past
eight years. It is even slightly lower because previously, it was a Muslim and
a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, now we moved to a Muslim and
a Christian who is not a pastor.
“So, tell me collectively as a body of Christ, the gains if you cannot say
it in very clear terms, then let us go back and make our own charter of
demands, what is the vision that we have for the body of Christ within the
Nigerian federation.
“And I still think that if we keep waiting every four years to do the same
thing, we will be forced to choose from among those we have been presented and
make decisions based on several factors. So, we must change our approach, not
when it is a year to the election but from today,” he submitted.
Governor Makinde's call for a single term structure and enhanced civic
participation resonated with the audience, sparking conversations about the
potential for a transformed political landscape in Nigeria. As the nation looks
ahead to its future elections, the ideas and perspectives shared at the
National Executive Retreat are likely to shape the discourse surrounding
Nigeria's political trajectory.
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