If Part 1 asked the uncomfortable question “Is this madness or method?”
then Part 2 must confront an even more critical reality:
What happens after the man many now call ‘crazy’ leaves the stage? Because governance is not a one-act performance. It is a relay. And the most important moment is not how fast the first runner moves, but who takes the baton next.
The Danger of Starting Over
In Nigeria’s political history, one recurring tragedy stands out:
- Progress is often temporary.
- Not because leaders fail to start strong, but because successors fail to continue.
- Projects get abandoned.
- Policies get reversed.
- Momentum gets lost.
- And the people? They return to where they started.
Oyo State cannot afford that cycle again. Not after years of rebuilding systems, restoring confidence, and laying a functional foundation under Seyi Makinde.
Continuity Is Not Politics, It Is Strategy, There is a dangerous misconception in our political space, that continuity means loyalty to an individual. No.
Continuity is loyalty to progress.
It is the understanding that development is a process, not an event.
What Makinde has initiated across infrastructure, economy, health, and governance systems, requires:
- Deep understanding
- Policy alignment
- Administrative discipline
- And most importantly, belief in the vision
Anything short of that risks slowing down, if not completely derailing, the progress already made.
The Kind of Leadership Oyo Cannot Afford
At this point in its journey, Oyo State cannot afford:
- Experimental leadership
- Populist promises without structure
- Political opportunists disconnected from governance realities
Because the stakes are now higher. The foundation has been laid. Expectations have been raised. The people are watching.
What is needed now is not noise, but capacity. Not ambition, but preparedness.
Beyond Popularity: The Question of Capacity
Elections are often won on popularity. But states are built on competence. The next leader of Oyo State must not just be known, he must be ready.
Ready to:
- Understand existing policies without confusion
- Sustain economic direction without disruption
- Expand ongoing projects without delay
And protect the fragile trust already rebuilt between government and the people. Because governance at this stage is no longer about learning on the job. It is about continuing a job already in motion.
A Silent Shift in Public Consciousness
Something is changing among the people of Oyo State. Quietly. Gradually. Strategically. The conversation is no longer just about “who is contesting.” It is now about “who can sustain this progress.” That shift is powerful. Because it moves politics away from emotions, and closer to responsibility.
The Responsibility of the Political Class
This moment is not just about voters. It is also about political stakeholders, influencers, and decision-makers. The responsibility is collective:
- To guide public opinion responsibly
- To support competence over convenience
- To resist the temptation of short-term political gains
- And to prioritize the long-term future of Oyo State
Because history will not remember who played politics well. It will remember who made the right decisions at the right time.
For me, this is not a moment for silence or neutrality. It is a moment for clarity. A moment to stand firmly on the side of:
- Continuity
- Capacity
- Credibility
Because the future of Oyo State must not be left to chance. It must be deliberately protected.
You will agree with me that, Oyo State has moved forward, and it must not be allowed to move backward. So perhaps the real “madness” is not in what Seyi Makinde has done. Perhaps the real madness would be:
- Ignoring visible progress
- Disrupting a working system
Replacing structure with uncertainty
Because in the end, leadership is not about emotions. It is about consequences. And the decision Oyo State makes next will not just define the next four years,
It will define a generation.
Asiwaju YSO Oladunni is a media entrepreneur, strategist, and public affairs commentator. He is the Publisher of TODAY SPLASH and the driving force behind Splash Arts, platforms dedicated to amplifying truth, shaping narratives, and promoting developmental governance.
He writes from Ibadan and contributes to conversations on leadership, public policy, and sustainable development in Oyo State and Nigeria.
