Seyi Makinde mocks Tinubu’s ‘Emi Lokan’ slogan, saying Nigerians reject turn-by-turn nepotism ahead of the 2027 presidential election
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s “Emi Lokan” slogan ahead of the 2027 presidential election, arguing that Nigerians should determine the country’s next leader based on their collective choice rather than political turn-taking.
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Makinde, the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), made the remarks on Thursday during the party’s town hall meeting in Akure, Ondo State.
He argued that Nigeria’s leadership should not be determined by regional entitlement or the belief that political power must pass from one individual or group to another in turns.
According to the governor, Nigerians should be allowed to decide who deserves to lead the country in the next election.
“How can someone say, ‘Eemi lokan’, in a country like Nigeria?” Makinde asked.
He cited the 1999 presidential election, when voters in the South-West largely supported Olu Falae, while voters in other parts of the country backed Olusegun Obasanjo, who eventually won the election.
“If you recall the 1999 presidential election, the South-West voted massively for Baba Olu Falae, but the rest of Nigerians voted for Baba Obasanjo,” he said.
Makinde maintained that the question of who becomes president should be resolved collectively by Nigerians rather than by any particular region.
“This is not an issue that only the South-West can resolve; it is an issue we must address collectively as Nigerians,” he added.
The governor also criticised what he described as “turn-by-turn nepotism”, warning that a political system driven by entitlement could undermine development and accountability.
“We do not want ‘turn-by-turn nepotism’, nor do we want a situation where people say, ‘I will vote for projects because it is my turn’,” Makinde said.
He argued that such an approach could lead to successive administrations pursuing projects without completing them, leaving the country with poor value for public resources.
According to him, development should be guided by the needs of Nigerians and the long-term interests of the country rather than the political interests of particular individuals or groups.
Makinde also used the town hall meeting to promote the APM’s Reset Nigeria agenda, which he said was focused on economic growth, infrastructure development and addressing the concerns of young people and women.
He maintained that improving the economy would help ensure that development benefits Nigerians across different regions and demographic groups.
“Once we fix our economy, no zone will be left behind, and no demographic group will be left behind,” he said.
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The remarks come as political parties and potential contenders position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with debates over leadership, regional representation and economic development expected to feature prominently in the campaign.
