At a time when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is grappling with defections and deep internal divisions, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State stands out as one of the few leaders still anchoring the opposition.
His journey at this stage of his public life is therefore not merely about adding another year, but about resilience and steadfastness in governance and in party politics, when many have opted for easier exits.
As he turned 58 on Christmas Day, the man whose path reflects years of persistence and a steady rise in public life was born as Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, on 25 December 1967, to Pa Olatubosun Makinde and Madam Abigail Makinde. Raised in a modest household that prized discipline, education and integrity, he was shaped early by values that later defined his leadership style, with a commitment to hard work, personal responsibility and the conviction that success is meaningful only when it translates into service to society.
Makinde’s road to power was long. In 2007 he contested the Oyo South senatorial seat under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and lost. He later joined the PDP and sought its ticket for the same seat ahead of the 2011 election, but did not secure it. In 2015, after failing to win the PDP governorship primary, he moved to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and ran for governor. He was defeated again, yet each outing strengthened his grassroots base and public profile.
The turning point came in 2018 when he returned to the PDP, won its governorship primary and went on to claim victory in the 2019 election. He was re-elected in 2023, confirming broad support for his leadership. As governor of Oyo State, Makinde has pursued reforms in education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic development. In both the public primary and secondary schools, classrooms were rebuilt and model schools established. The state secured sole ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, upgraded primary healthcare centres, expanded roads across key corridors and promoted agribusiness to drive jobs and investment.
Yet it is within the PDP that Makinde’s current relevance is most pronounced. The party has been torn by rival camps, most visibly between the bloc associated with Nyesom Wike and those aligned with Makinde and other governors, over leadership and the conduct of a national convention. Parallel meetings, court actions and open accusations have exposed the depth of the crisis, while defections to the ruling party have further weakened the opposition.
In the midst of this turmoil, Makinde chose to engage decisively. As chairman of the transportation subcommittee for the PDP’s national convention, he took charge of critical logistics to ensure delegates from across the country could attend. Through his determination and organisational skill, the convention was successfully hosted in Ibadan on 10 and 11 November 2025, demonstrating his capacity to deliver results even under pressure. He publicly insisted that the convention must go ahead and warned that attempts to halt it would undermine the party’s future.
Makinde was later expelled in what was widely viewed as a retaliatory move following an earlier expulsion issued against party leaders, including Nyesom Wike, whose actions had contributed to significant divisions within the PDP. Analysts observed that his expulsion came from a faction already engaged in contested party decisions, and his measured response reinforced his dedication to the PDP’s institutional processes. Many state party leaders rallied around him, interpreting his stance as a defence of party unity, organisational order and collective survival.
During a period of turbulence, defections and factional rivalries within the PDP, Makinde has remained unwavering, anchored in a party that many others have left. It is this steadfastness, coupled with his willingness to take responsibility when unity is under strain, that has solidified his reputation as the last man standing. While others have sought easier paths, he continues to invest in the party’s cohesion and future, guiding its course with a blend of resilience, prudence and vision as it prepares for the 2027 elections.
As he marks his 58th birthday this Christmas Day, the personal milestone offers a moment to reflect on a journey defined by persistence and steady rise in public life. From engineer and entrepreneur to contender under the ANPP, SDP and PDP, and now a two-term governor and national party figure, his path illustrates a commitment to service and determination in the face of challenges.
At 58, Seyi Makinde stands defined not only by steady governance in Oyo State, but also by a resolve to uphold his party in its hour of trial. In today’s fractured opposition space, it is this unwavering commitment and visible investment in cohesion and institutional integrity that makes him, for now, the last man standing.
Happy birthday to the resolute Seyi Makinde, whose steadfast leadership continues to inspire confidence and hope among party faithful across Oyo State and beyond.
Packaged by Seyi Gesinde (Editor-at-Large, ParrotXtra Magazine/PMParrot.com)
