Former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and African Union of Journalists, Lanre Ogundipe, has cautioned supporters of Seyi Makinde against reducing discussions around the 2027 presidential race to what he described as political triumphialism.
Ogundipe, in a statement titled: “When Not To Speak,” was reacting to recent comments credited to the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, in support of Makinde’s presidential ambition.
While acknowledging Makinde’s constitutional right to aspire to any political office, including the presidency, Ogundipe stressed that such ambition should not be promoted through what he termed sweeping assertions lacking broader national context and objective scrutiny.
He questioned repeated claims about the growth of Oyo State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which reportedly rose from about ₦26.5 billion in 2019 to over ₦103 billion in 2026, asking whether the economic realities of ordinary residents had improved proportionately.
According to him, Nigerians are entitled to ask whether industrial productivity has expanded significantly and what measurable impact the revenue growth has had on unemployment, poverty reduction and living conditions across the state.
“Revenue generation alone does not automatically translate into economic transformation,” he stated.
Ogundipe argued that infrastructure development, though commendable, should not automatically be interpreted as proof of national presidential capacity.
He noted that governance at the national level requires broader competencies, including security management, economic coordination, coalition building, institutional depth and national acceptability across Nigeria’s diverse political environment.
The former NUJ president also faulted suggestions that defeating an incumbent administration in 2027 was already assured, warning that such comments risk trivialising democratic engagement.
According to him, public communication by government officials occupying sensitive positions requires restraint, moderation and responsibility.
“Excessive political projection can sometimes weaken rather than strengthen the credibility of the very ambition being promoted,” he said.
Ogundipe maintained that his intervention should not be interpreted as opposition to Makinde’s alleged presidential ambition but rather as a call for political moderation and issue-based engagement.
“Political credibility is built through measurable national substance and broad public persuasion , not emotional overstatement,” he added.
He added that knowing when not to speak was itself a mark of political wisdom.
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