Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has stated that he cannot comprehensively tackle Nigeria’s escalating security challenges until he ascends to the presidency in 2027.
He dropped the remark on Saturday in Ibadan while formally accepting the presidential nomination of the African People’s Movement (APM), a development coming on the heels of mounting public anxiety over rampant kidnappings and abductions across Oyo State and the wider country.
Makinde argued that while state executives are routinely labeled as the Chief Security Officers of their respective domains, they lack the actual constitutional authority over law enforcement agencies required to decisively crush insecurity.
The governor expressed deep sorrow over the ongoing captivity of snatched schoolchildren and local residents within his own borders, calling the entire crisis deeply agonizing.
“Today, innocent schoolchildren and citizens abducted by criminals remain in captivity in Oyo State,” he lamented.
He maintained that it is unjust to place total accountability for security lapses on governors when they lack the structural power to execute decisive directives, urging for an immediate overhaul of the nation’s security architecture.
Casting his eyes toward the 2027 polls, Makinde vowed that if he clinches the presidency, his administration will fast-track sweeping security overhauls, focusing heavily on decentralized security operations to equip states with the local capability to neutralize immediate dangers.
“As President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by the grace of God, I will work to reform our national security architecture so that states are no longer left helpless in moments of crisis,” he declared.
He concluded by stressing that Nigeria desperately requires a fresh framework for governance and public safety, emphasizing that national leadership must be rooted strictly in accountability, competence, and swift execution.
