Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State boldly asserted his triumph over the prevailing 'who is your father' phenomenon in the state's political landscape.

He made this significant declaration during the Students' Legislative Summit, organized by Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, in collaboration with the Students' Representative Council at the University of Ibadan.

Among the distinguished guests present were Minister of State for Youth, Ayodele Olawande, and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, represented at the event. Makinde emphasized a transformative shift in Oyo State's politics, where pedigree no longer dictates one's political ascent.

Highlighting his own background, Makinde candidly shared that despite his father's status as a 'nobody,' he earned the trust of the people and was elected to lead. He urged Nigerian youth to actively engage in governance, underscoring the critical role of leadership in shaping the future.

Governor Makinde's call for increased youth participation in governance resonates deeply in our quest for a more inclusive and dynamic political landscape. It's a clarion call to empower the next generation of leaders and ensure a brighter future for all.

“For us here, we have seen the common situation where ‘who is your father’ was the order of the day but we have been able to break that in Oyo State. My father was a ‘nobody’ and the Oyo State people still gave me the opportunity to lead.

“We may not be able to prepare the future for the youth, but we can prepare the youth for the future. Please, don’t see this event as just an opportunity to look at the issue of leadership in this country. And, in me, Seyi Makinde, the youth have an ally and we will prepare the leaders of the next generation amongst the youth.

“I am here this afternoon to encourage the youth. If you look at the history of Nigeria, we had our independence in 1960 and six years after, in 1966, the person that became the Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, was 31 years and some months old. After him, during the Second Republic, former President Obasanjo retired as a General at the age of 39.

“You should dream big; people have ruled this country at very tender ages. So, for you, don’t think that at 29 or 30, you are too young to rule and I am glad, because this is almost like catching them early.

“You have the students here and in about three years, some of you will be out there to move on. If I were you, I wouldn’t start looking for work; I would start doing my own thing at a very early age of 24 or 25. With the kind of energy you still have, you can pull down the kingdom of Satan.”