In a recent statement, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State boldly proclaimed that he has shattered the age-old notion of ‘who is your father’ in the political landscape of the state.
This declaration was made during the Students’ Legislative Summit, a collaborative event organized by Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly and chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, along with the Students’ Representative Council of the University of Ibadan.
Notable personalities present at the event included the Minister of State for Youth, Ayodele Olawande, former Senate President Bukola Saraki (represented), and the Speakers of Osun and Ekiti State Houses of Assembly.
Governor Makinde emphasized that there was a time when the question “who is your father” dominated the political discourse in the state, but he proudly asserted that he has successfully disrupted that narrative.
Reflecting on his own background, Makinde mentioned that his father was considered a ‘nobody,’ yet the people of Oyo State entrusted him with leadership responsibilities.
He urged Nigerian youths to actively engage in governance and emphasized the crucial role of leadership in shaping the future of the youth.
“We may not be able to prepare the future for the youth, but we can prepare the youth for the future. Please, don’t see this event as just an opportunity to look at the issue of leadership in this country. And, in me, Seyi Makinde, the youth have an ally, and we will prepare the leaders of the next generation among the youth.
“I am here this afternoon to encourage the youth. If you look at the history of Nigeria, we had our independence in 1960, and six years later, in 1966, the person who became the Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, was 31 years old. After him, during the Second Republic, former President Obasanjo retired as a General at the age of 39.
“You should dream big; people have ruled this country at very tender ages. So, for you, don’t think that at 29 or 30, you are too young to rule and I am glad, because this is almost like catching them early.
“You have the students here, and in about three years, some of you will be out there to move on. If I were you, I wouldn’t start looking for work; I would start doing my own thing at a very early age of 24 or 25. With the kind of energy you still have, you can pull down the kingdom of Satan.”