Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Sunday met with former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State, alongside former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Makinde disclosed the meeting in a post on his official social media accounts, describing the visit as an opportunity to seek the former president’s counsel on national issues at a critical political moment.
“Earlier today, we visited Baba, His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR in Abeokuta,” Makinde wrote.
“Our discussions centred on important national issues in view of the upcoming general election.
“We appreciate Baba for his wise counsel at this crucial time in our nation’s history.”
The governor, however, did not elaborate on the issues discussed or indicate whether the meeting produced any political agreements.
The composition of the delegation has nevertheless attracted attention.
Fayemi, a former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, is one of the most influential figures in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while Oyinlola, a former governor of Osun State and former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has remained an important player in national politics across different political platforms.
Their joint appearance with Makinde before Obasanjo has fuelled fresh speculation that consultations are underway among senior political figures as parties and interest groups position themselves ahead of the general election.
Although no participant suggested that the meeting was aimed at forging a political alliance, the gathering comes at a time of heightened discussions over possible cross-party cooperation and opposition coordination.
Obasanjo has, over the years, remained one of Nigeria’s most influential elder statesmen since leaving office in 2007.
Successive presidents, governors, presidential aspirants and political leaders have visited him at his Abeokuta residence for consultations, particularly during election seasons.
While he has repeatedly insisted that he does not belong to any political party, his public interventions and endorsements have often shaped national political discourse.
The meeting also comes months after Makinde formally declared his intention to contest the presidency on the platform of the opposition PDP–APM alliance, arguing that Nigeria requires a new direction and a stronger democratic alternative.
At his declaration, the Oyo governor said the country needed “a hard reset” and called for greater unity among opposition forces.
“The opposition in Nigeria is not just the political parties,” Makinde said at the time. “It is the everyday Nigerian for whom the country does not work.”
He added, “The time to reset Nigeria is now.”
Makinde has since maintained that Nigeria’s democracy would be healthier with a vibrant opposition capable of providing credible alternatives to the ruling party.
For Fayemi, the meeting marks another appearance in national political consultations following his own unsuccessful bid for the APC presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 election.
Widely regarded as one of the party’s leading intellectuals and strategists, he has remained active in discussions on governance, constitutional reform and democratic development.
Oyinlola, a retired military officer who governed Osun State between 2003 and 2010, has also continued to play a prominent role in Nigeria’s political landscape, having served in senior positions within both the PDP and the APC.
The visit comes amid increasing political activity nationwide as aspirants, party leaders and influential stakeholders begin consultations expected to shape alliances, party strategies and presidential contests in the months leading to the election.
0
