By Lanre Ogundipe
A former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the African Union of Journalists, Mr. Lanre Ogundipe, has cautioned against what he described as “premature political triumphalism” surrounding the alleged presidential ambition of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
In a press statement issued on May 15, 2026, Ogundipe reacted to recent comments attributed to the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Dotun Oyelade, who reportedly spoke in support of Governor Makinde’s possible presidential bid.
Ogundipe said although Governor Makinde has the constitutional right to aspire to any political office, including the presidency, such ambition should not be promoted through “sweeping assertions lacking deeper national context and objective scrutiny.”
He questioned the repeated emphasis on the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which reportedly rose from about ₦26.5 billion in 2019 to over ₦103 billion in 2026, noting that revenue growth alone does not necessarily translate into economic transformation.
According to him, Nigerians deserve to know whether the increase in revenue has significantly improved the living conditions of ordinary citizens, reduced unemployment and poverty, or expanded industrial productivity in the state.
“Revenue generation alone does not automatically translate into economic transformation,” he stated.
Ogundipe also argued that infrastructure development, while commendable, should not be used as the sole basis for projecting presidential capacity at the national level.
He stressed that governance at the national level requires wider competencies, including security management, economic coordination, coalition building, institutional depth, and broad national acceptability.
The former NUJ president further warned that claims suggesting victory against an incumbent administration was “assured” could undermine serious democratic engagement.
He urged public officials, particularly those occupying sensitive government positions, to exercise restraint and moderation in political communication.
“Excessive political projection can sometimes weaken rather than strengthen the credibility of the very ambition being promoted,” he said.
Ogundipe clarified that his remarks were not an attack on Governor Makinde’s aspiration, but rather a call for political credibility to be built on “measurable national substance and broad public persuasion.”
“Sometimes, knowing when not to speak is itself a mark of political wisdom,” the statement concluded.
