LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)-Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, has called for a constitutional amendment to establish a single term of five or six years for elected public officials across Nigeria, replacing the current two-term limit of four years each.
The governor argued that a longer, non-renewable tenure would reduce the distractions of re-election campaigns and allow leaders to concentrate fully on governance.
Makinde made the proposal during a visit from a delegation of Muslim leaders and dignitaries at his Ikolaba residence in Ibadan, shortly after the 2025 Eid-el-Kabir prayers at the Agodi Eid Ground.
The delegation, led by Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, included prominent figures such as Senator Rashidi Ladoja, former Deputy Governor Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, and the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dawodu Makanjuola.
Addressing his guests, the governor congratulated the Muslim community on the Eid celebration and thanked them for their prayers and steadfast support throughout his six years in office.
Reflecting on his own experience, Makinde lamented the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the demands of campaigning, which, he said, effectively reduced productive governance time.
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“I have spent six years already, and due to no fault of anybody, we lost 2020 to the COVID-19 pandemic,”
“We also lost almost another year to campaigning for a second term. Now, people have started distracting us again with questions about my political future. Realistically, we’ve only had five focused years out of eight,” Makinde said.
The governor emphasized that his proposal was not self-serving but grounded in governance data and broader national interest.
“We shouldn’t be afraid to state the facts. This has nothing to do with my personal ambition. If the decision is that I should step down, so be it,”
“I know the issue has been brought to the attention of the National Assembly, but I believe Nigerians should begin to give it more serious thought. It is a model that can work for this country,” he added.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, conveyed his goodwill through Oba Ladoja, calling for greater public support for the government and offering prayers for its continued success.
Deputy Governor Lawal, in his Eid message, urged the Muslim community to embody the values of obedience, trust, and sacrifice, as exemplified in the teachings of the Holy Quran.
He commended Governor Makinde for his commitment to citizens’ welfare, particularly through the consistent payment of salaries, and called for greater civic cooperation to improve democratic dividends.
Also speaking at the event, Professor Kamil Oloso prayed for the governor’s continued success and expressed the Muslim community’s appreciation for his unwavering support.
