Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has said that while Nigeria’s political space is abuzz with recent defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the real defection that matters to Nigerians, the defection of hunger and hardship has not yet occurred.
Makinde stated this in his bi-monthly newsletter released on Thursday, cautioning Nigerians not to be distracted by political realignments that do little to improve their living conditions. He stressed that true progress would only begin when hunger, poverty, and deprivation finally “defect” from Nigeria.
“I am sure many of you have been following the recent defections of politicians, especially governors who have left the PDP for the APC and other parties,” he wrote. “With these defections, political pundits have been busy reading meanings into every handshake and silence. But for me, the only defection that truly matters is the one that has not happened yet, the defection of hunger.”
Makinde said that while the nation’s attention is fixed on political maneuvering, millions of Nigerians continue to grapple with unbearable economic conditions.
“Families are being forced to make impossible choices daily,” he noted. “These are the real issues, not political realignment. What we are experiencing is the widening of inequality. While the rich are adjusting, the poor are sinking and that is what must command our attention.”
The governor maintained that hunger, not partisanship, is at the heart of the frustration and hopelessness felt across the country. “Until we deal with that,” he warned, “every political drama will remain a distraction.”
Reaffirming his confidence in the Nigerian electorate, Makinde said the people, not politicians will determine the outcome of the 2027 general elections. He emphasized that the PDP remains committed to presenting a credible alternative that prioritizes citizens’ welfare.
“No matter how many defections are engineered, it is the Nigerian people who will decide the outcome of the 2027 elections,” he stated. “Our job in the PDP is to continue to provide proof that we can deliver relief where others have brought pain.”
Makinde highlighted that under the PDP’s previous administrations, Nigerians experienced relative prosperity, stability, and optimism, conditions he said his party must now strive to restore. He described the upcoming PDP National Convention scheduled for November in Ibadan as an opportunity to “reset” and refocus the party’s vision toward rebuilding lives rather than political structures.
“It will be an opportunity to reassert our values and send a clear message that we are focused on rebuilding lives, not merely rebuilding power structures,” he said. “Let others defect for convenience; let us stand firm for conscience. When hunger finally defects, prosperity will return and so will our pride as a people.”
Makinde concluded by avering that politics must always serve humanity, not just the interests of the political class. “Economic decisions are not about numbers,” he wrote. “Every decision that takes money out of people’s pockets moves them closer to poverty. Policies divorced from the realities of hunger, unemployment, and the erosion of dignity are not policies worth defending. Our politics must serve humanity.”
