2027: PDP leader tells Makinde to highlight his achievements

A former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Dr Oluwole Oluyede, has urged Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to show his achievements and qualifications for the presidency. He believes Makinde should not focus on youthful energy alone.

Oluyede, who started the Oluyede Progressive Alliance for Renewed Hope Agenda, criticized Makinde for making physical fitness a campaign issue. He said, "Nigeria needs proven leadership, political experience and measurable achievements rather than age-based arguments."

Makinde, the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, spoke at the party’s South-West town hall meeting in Akure on Thursday. He said his campaign would focus on energy and stamina, not age. He stated, "While I will not make age an issue of this campaign, I will make energy, having energy, being able to stay up late, have the rigours, have the energy to deal with the challenges that we are faced with as a country."

He added, "So please, when they bring their own presidential candidates, let the candidates come here and also jump down. If they can do that, vote for them."

However, in a statement released in Ado Ekiti on Friday, Oluyede said leadership should be judged by performance and achievements, not age. He stated, "Leadership is not about how young or energetic you claim to be. It is about what you have achieved, the institutions you have built, the people you have empowered and the political legacy you are leaving behind."

Oluyede continued, "If Governor Makinde believes he is prepared to lead Nigeria, he should show Nigerians his record and allow them to assess it against the responsibilities he seeks to assume. Youthfulness without results is not leadership. Being young is not, in itself, proof of leadership capacity. Youthful energy must translate into tangible achievements and responsible governance."

He warned Nigerians to be careful about arguments that prioritize age over experience, policy depth, judgment and past performance. He said, "The presidency demands more than physical stamina; it requires the capacity to manage a complex economy, address security challenges, strengthen public institutions and provide a clear direction for national development."

The founder of OPARHA also criticized Makinde’s comments comparing President Bola Tinubu’s age and physical strength. Oluyede argued that Tinubu’s political career showed the importance of strategic thinking, organizational skills, resilience and building lasting institutions.

He pointed out, "At the age Governor Makinde is today, President Tinubu was already governing Lagos State and confronting serious political and developmental challenges. Tinubu built political structures, navigated difficult circumstances and sustained a political movement that eventually expanded beyond Lagos."

Oluyede challenged Makinde to stop comparing age and energy. He wants Makinde to present his achievements, political leadership and plans for Nigeria. He stated, "The ultimate test of leadership is not how young a politician is, but what that politician has demonstrably accomplished with the opportunities and responsibilities entrusted to him."

Oluyede also questioned Makinde’s leadership of the PDP in the South-West. He said the party’s fortunes in the region should be part of assessing his leadership. He noted, "Political leadership requires the ability to unite stakeholders, manage internal disagreements, strengthen party structures and create a credible pathway to electoral success."

He added, "Anyone who aspires to national leadership must be prepared to answer questions about their handling of political organisations and relationships, particularly when those organisations face internal divisions and electoral challenges."

Oluyede urged Makinde to explain how his leadership had improved the PDP’s position in the South-West. He also emphasized the need for respect towards institutions and traditional authorities. He said, "Public figures seeking higher office should demonstrate humility, respect for institutions and the maturity to engage opponents without reducing political debates to personal comparisons."

He concluded, "President Tinubu’s record should be assessed through verifiable policies and governance outcomes, just as Makinde and other prospective presidential aspirants should be prepared to defend their own records before Nigerians. The 2027 presidential debate should focus on achievements, ideas, accountability and the capacity to deliver sustainable development."