Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has called for a constitutional amendment to introduce a single term of five or six years for elected officials, replacing the current two-term, four-year system.
Speaking during a post-Eid gathering in Ibadan, Makinde reflected on the distractions that come with re-election bids and external crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said limit actual governance time.
“I have spent six years in office, but truthfully, we lost a year to COVID-19 and another to politicking for re-election,” he noted. “Effectively, serious governance only happens for about five years out of eight. That’s why I believe a single term could lead to better focus and delivery.”
He argued that the idea wasn’t self-serving, but necessary for long-term reform:“It has nothing to do with me. If they say I should end it, so be it. But we must look at the data. A focused five or six years is better than eight years filled with distractions.”
According to him, a longer single term would allow leaders to deliver without the burden of political calculations.
He made the remarks while hosting Muslim leaders and political allies. In response, Otun Olubadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, commended Makinde’s stewardship and called for sustained public support for his administration.