A former Commissioner of Health in Oyo State, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan is currently at war with the state’s governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde. The faceoff is unconnected with the 2027 governorship race. Governor Makinde had at a recent event dropped a relatively crucial hint about the age bracket of his likely successor come 2027. The governor was quoted to have said that he won’t support any candidate above 52. The statement has generated a lot of controversy.
Many chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, including Dr Adeduntan, have find the statement insulting and self-serving rather than representing the collective interest of the party.
In fact, Adeduntan had personally called Governor Makinde out over the statement. The renowned medical practitioner in an open letter noted that Governor Makinde lacks medical knowledge and sagacity to determine the age limit for his likely successor. It would be recalled that Adeduntan defected to PDP from APC a few weeks to the 2023 general elections. Prior to his defection, he was governorship aspirant in APC both for the 2019 and 2023 elections.
Though Adeduntan wasn’t specific as to whether he will contest the 2027 guber race or not, he said wrote the open letter as “a critical stakeholder in Oyo 2027 governorship race.” One thing that is, however, very clear is that Adeduntan’s age doesn’t fall within the age bracket that Makinde is looking up to as his likely successor. He’s now 70, so he may not find Governor Makinde’s outburst funny at all. Adeduntan also noted that the open letter wouldn’t have been necessary had been Governor Makinde is still accessible or picks his calls or responds to messages.
In the lengthy letter, Adeduntan described Governor Makinde’s statement as a plan to eliminate the older men in the system. He insisted that all it takes to govern is “physiological age, not chronological age.” “You may wish to know at your present age of 57 years and at 52 years in 2019, when you became Governor, you are and you were respectively already an old man by longevity data for NIGERIA,” he said. Adeduntan also reminded Makinde of how he supported his second term election in 2023 both financially and otherwise even at the risk of his political and personal life.
“Let me close by reminding Governor Makinde that power belongs to God, not him and until recently he was a labeled “serial” loser from 2003 to 2019 and 2023 when he became Governor through implosion in APC and Tinubu’s electoral bandwagon effect. You must not grandstand or showboat;but thank almighty God at all times.
Discrimination in any form whether on the basis of age, religion, tribe, ethnicity must not be traceable or associated with you because you were a survivor of discrimination. When the Muslim community in Oyo State was looking for your “jugular “on your perceived anti Islamic behavior, we stood by you and defended you. When the powers that be in Oyo State including a former Governor and deputy Governor, said you will not return to power, based on your character, we defended you and the first to come out, before others regained their lost voices at great risk. You are not the first two term Governor, you will not be the last and hence must tread gingerly with evanescent power.
Oyo State will choose the next Governor through immortal God-the owner of sovereignty and power and not through any mortals like you, regardless of whoever you support-for this is Oyo State-the mecca of politics in the southwest and Nigeria.
This is not Kogi, Edo or Bayelsa State.WE are politically sound and savvy. Your excellency, My expectations and advice as a well wisher to you (I supported you financially and electorally in 2019 and 2023 respectively; without asking for a kobo in return) at great risk to my life) is to leave behind in Oyo State -the best successor, regardless of age, religion, or ethnicity, run a financially prudent administration,not who you support to cover you up as you must learn from contemporary events as evidenced by WIKE/FURBARA, Oshiomole/Obaseki,EL RUFAI/UBA SANNI.
It is paradoxical your Excellency, that those that wanted you politically “dead”-not to return to power in 2023; are now surrounding you, showing extreme ingratitude to some of us and short memory on your part and a symptom of hallucination of power.
OYO STATE will not allow imposed candidate -young or old in 2027. Run a financially prudent GOVERNMENT, with probity, so you will not need an inexperienced successor or buffoon, who will bail or shield you as in the case of BELLO & ODODO vs EFCC; When and if EFCC decides to come after you at the end of your term.
Your Excellency, please don’t forget the past as we have been in this game together as members of PDP G7 in 2015 led by Dr Oyelese. Oyo State will not allow imposed candidate by you or any one in 2027, as long as God Continues to be GOD in the heavens and for whom. I have Supreme confidence. You can impose anyone you like, since primaries in Nigeria are usually doctored) in PDP, you will end up without a successor in 2027, just like your predecessor. I make bold to say this your excellency. There lies the bitter truth. IT WILL BE POETIC JUSTICE by the grace of almighty God, whom you always quote. Fortunately, he is GOD of all mortals, not you alone,” the letter partly read.
Meanwhile, probably inundated with the negative feedback that his comment has generated, Governor Makinde has since made some clarifications in relation to the issue. He now puts the age limit of his likely successor to between 45-55 as against 52 as stated earlier by him.
The governor said that he never meant to limit or discourage any particular individual from contesting but was just speaking on his feet and concern about who would get his support in the coming election.
Makinde made the clarifications when members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, who were in the State to consult with stakeholders on proposed constitution amendments, visited him on Friday, 26 April, 2024. Makinde said, “I was at a function with the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly a few days ago where he brought students for engagement on lawmaking and the rest.
At the event I said, for me, when I am leaving in 2027, I will support somebody that is of specific age bracket. A lot of people have been on my case since I said it. It was almost like I did rule out certain people. But, no, I didn’t.
Basically, I was thinking on my feet and I said quite frankly, I got to this work at 51 and if you have to work really, it is demanding, you wont have enough time to sleep and all of that and I said, for me it is not about anybody, I think I said the person I will support will be between the age bracket 50 to 52. But, let me clarify now, it will now be between 45 years and 55 years and I think that’s a fair one.
As I sit here, I look at the pictures of the individuals who have governed this state in time past. Look at Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was here at this Exco Chamber as the Premier of the Western Region, of what we today have as the six Southwest states plus Edo and Delta, he was aged 45 at the time. That was in 1954. So, quite frankly, we were on that trajectory but we missed it somehow.”
-Dare Adeniran
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