Yes, we know that resignations continue to emerge from the administration of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, attention is shifting from the number of departing appointees to the possible political implications for his government ahead of the 2027 elections.

Makinde, however, has offered an insight into why he maintains his composure under pressure, pointing to his professional background in specialised engineering, particularly safety and shutdown systems.

“A lot of people see me and say, in the midst of all this chaos, why are you calm?” the governor said in a recent interview. One thing is that you can’t see me being frightened. I’m not only an engineer; I’m a specialised engineer. I’m a professional in safety and shutdown systems,” he said.

Explaining how the specialisation influences his thinking, Makinde added: “So the way you think at that sub-specialization level is different from normal things. You can’t basically take it away from my psyche.”

His comments were not explicitly directed at the recent resignations. Nevertheless, they provide a useful lens through which to examine the unfolding developments, a governor who says his professional training has taught him to assess risks, anticipate possible failures and remain composed under pressure. The question, therefore, is whether the departures represent a serious political setback for Makinde or a period of personnel changes that his administration can manage.

One of the latest departures was that of Kabiru Salami, Executive Assistant to the governor on Security Coordination, who resigned on October 20, 2026.

In his resignation letter, Salami reportedly expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve and reaffirmed his commitment to peace, security and development in Oyo State. The letter did not establish a specific political grievance behind his decision. His departure followed that of former Special Adviser on Security and Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Fatai Owoseni, who resigned in May.

Owoseni, a former commissioner of police, occupied a position central to the state’s security coordination. Although speculation subsequently emerged about his political ambitions, his resignation did not, on its own, establish a political motive. Another significant departure was that of Segun Ogunwuyi, who resigned as Chief of Staff on October 12 after serving in the position since 2021.

Ogunwuyi’s exit attracted political attention because of his position within the administration and speculation about his possible political realignment. Reports also linked the development to disagreements over the political direction of the governor’s camp ahead of 2027. However, such interpretations should be treated cautiously. His reported resignation letter did not provide a specific reason that conclusively established those claims.

Makinde appointed Bashorun Akinwale Akinwole, popularly known as Wolekanle, as his new Chief of Staff following Ogunwuyi’s departure. The appointment demonstrated that the administration could fill an important vacancy quickly. However, replacing an officeholder does not necessarily replace the political relationships, influence or grassroots connections that the departing official may have built over time.

Other changes have affected the administration and its affiliated institutions. Tara Adefope, former Director-General of the Due Process Office, left her position, while Aderonke Adedayo was appointed to replace her, retaining her existing responsibilities as Special Adviser on General Intervention and Donor Agencies.

On October 19, four more departures were reported: Joshua Olusola Afolabi, a member of the Teaching Service Commission; Rebecca Oladoja Agbejimi, a member of the State Universal Basic Education Board; Noah Olusola Adeyanju, a member of the governing council of Michael Adeniyi KoleoshoPolytechnic, Saki; and Suleiman Abiodun Adegbola, a supervisory councillor in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area. Their reported resignation letters were dated October 19 and stated that their departures would take immediate effect.

Other names associated with recent exits include Babatunde Oduyoye, a member of the Oyo State Advisory Council; Funmi Arulogun, former Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters; Damilare Gideon Amusan, former chairman of the governing board of the College of Agriculture, Igboora; former lawmaker Peter Oyetunji; and Sheikh McNess.

The growing list has fuelled speculation about divisions within the governor’s political camp. However, the departures should not automatically be treated as evidence of a coordinated rebellion or a mass defection. Each resignation requires its own context, and the available explanations do not establish that every exit is politically motivated.

Now, the timing of the departures has made them politically significant. Makinde, who won the governorship in 2019 and secured re-election in 2023 on the platform of the PeoplesDemocratic Party, is now associated with the Allied Peoples Movement as he pursues wider political ambitions and supports Bimbo Adekanmbi for the Oyo governorship in 2027. The growing political landscape has placed relationships within the governor’s camp under greater scrutiny, particularly as rival parties and aspirants position themselves for the next election.

The All Progressives Congress has Senator Sharafadeen Alli as its governorship candidate, while other political actors are working to build alliances and mobilise supporters. In such an environment, the departure of an appointee can carry implications beyond the loss of an individual from government. Some officials have connections to political blocs, community leaders, party structures and grassroots supporters. Their next political steps, where disclosed, may therefore matter as much as their exit from public office.

Nevertheless, it would be premature to conclude that Makinde’spolitical influence is weakening solely because of the number of resignations. The more consequential questions are whether departing officials withdraw their political structures from his camp, whether they publicly align with rival parties, and whether their decisions affect mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

The administration’s ability to maintain effective governance while managing political disagreements will also be important. Resignations from security-related positions, for instance, raise questions about continuity and institutional capacity, even where replacements are appointed promptly.

Maybe, Makinde’s engineering background offers an explanation for his stated approach to pressure. His reference to safety and shutdown systems suggests a professional mindset shaped by identifying risks, anticipating system failures and ensuring that protective mechanisms work when required. In engineering, remaining calm during a potentially dangerous situation can help prevent a problem from escalating. Political leadership, however, involves variables that cannot always be controlled through technical planning.

People have independent interests, political loyalty can change, and decisions made by individual officials may have consequences that extend beyond their formal responsibilities. Consequently, the governor’s composure should not be mistaken for proof that the resignations pose no political risk. Nor should the departures, without further evidence, be interpreted as proof that his administration is in crisis.

A more reliable assessment would consider how the government responds, whether key functions remain effective, and whether the departures translate into measurable changes in political support. The same distinction applies to the reported appointment of replacements. Filling vacant positions can preserve administrative continuity, but it does not automatically resolve the political issues that may have contributed to the departures.

What happens next? The coming months may provide a clearer picture of whether the resignations are isolated personnel decisions or part of a wider realignment ahead of 2027. Public statements by the departing officials, their subsequent political affiliations and their activities within their constituencies will offer stronger evidence than speculation about their motives.

Makinde’s own political decisions will also be closely watched, particularly how he manages competing interests within his camp while pursuing his wider ambitions. For now, the resignations have raised questions about cohesion within the administration, but they have not, by themselves, established the extent of any political damage.

And this brings the focus back to the governor’s explanation of his composure. Makinde says his specialised engineering training has shaped the way he responds to pressure, teaching him to assess risks and anticipate what could go wrong rather than react with fear. Whether that approach will prove sufficient in passing through the political uncertainties ahead of 2027 remains to be seen. In politics, as in engineering, identifying a risk is only the first step; the real test lies in how effectively it is managed. The central question is therefore not simply why Makinde appears unafraid, but whether his administration can convert that composure into effective decisions, preserve its political relationships and maintain public confidence as the election approaches.

Yes, we know that resignations continue to emerge from the administration of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, attention is shifting from the number of departing appointees to the possible political implications for his government ahead of the 2027 elections.

Makinde, however, has offered an insight into why he maintains his composure under pressure, pointing to his professional background in specialised engineering, particularly safety and shutdown systems.

“A lot of people see me and say, in the midst of all this chaos, why are you calm?” the governor said in a recent interview. One thing is that you can’t see me being frightened. I’m not only an engineer; I’m a specialised engineer. I’m a professional in safety and shutdown systems,” he said.

Explaining how the specialisation influences his thinking, Makinde added: “So the way you think at that sub-specialization level is different from normal things. You can’t basically take it away from my psyche.”

His comments were not explicitly directed at the recent resignations. Nevertheless, they provide a useful lens through which to examine the unfolding developments, a governor who says his professional training has taught him to assess risks, anticipate possible failures and remain composed under pressure. The question, therefore, is whether the departures represent a serious political setback for Makinde or a period of personnel changes that his administration can manage.

One of the latest departures was that of Kabiru Salami, Executive Assistant to the governor on Security Coordination, who resigned on October 20, 2026.

In his resignation letter, Salami reportedly expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve and reaffirmed his commitment to peace, security and development in Oyo State. The letter did not establish a specific political grievance behind his decision. His departure followed that of former Special Adviser on Security and Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Fatai Owoseni, who resigned in May.

Owoseni, a former commissioner of police, occupied a position central to the state’s security coordination. Although speculation subsequently emerged about his political ambitions, his resignation did not, on its own, establish a political motive. Another significant departure was that of Segun Ogunwuyi, who resigned as Chief of Staff on October 12 after serving in the position since 2021.

Ogunwuyi’s exit attracted political attention because of his position within the administration and speculation about his possible political realignment. Reports also linked the development to disagreements over the political direction of the governor’s camp ahead of 2027. However, such interpretations should be treated cautiously. His reported resignation letter did not provide a specific reason that conclusively established those claims.

Makinde appointed Bashorun Akinwale Akinwole, popularly known as Wolekanle, as his new Chief of Staff following Ogunwuyi’s departure. The appointment demonstrated that the administration could fill an important vacancy quickly. However, replacing an officeholder does not necessarily replace the political relationships, influence or grassroots connections that the departing official may have built over time.

Other changes have affected the administration and its affiliated institutions. Tara Adefope, former Director-General of the Due Process Office, left her position, while Aderonke Adedayo was appointed to replace her, retaining her existing responsibilities as Special Adviser on General Intervention and Donor Agencies.

On October 19, four more departures were reported: Joshua Olusola Afolabi, a member of the Teaching Service Commission; Rebecca Oladoja Agbejimi, a member of the State Universal Basic Education Board; Noah Olusola Adeyanju, a member of the governing council of Michael Adeniyi KoleoshoPolytechnic, Saki; and Suleiman Abiodun Adegbola, a supervisory councillor in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area. Their reported resignation letters were dated October 19 and stated that their departures would take immediate effect.

Other names associated with recent exits include Babatunde Oduyoye, a member of the Oyo State Advisory Council; Funmi Arulogun, former Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters; Damilare Gideon Amusan, former chairman of the governing board of the College of Agriculture, Igboora; former lawmaker Peter Oyetunji; and Sheikh McNess.

The growing list has fuelled speculation about divisions within the governor’s political camp. However, the departures should not automatically be treated as evidence of a coordinated rebellion or a mass defection. Each resignation requires its own context, and the available explanations do not establish that every exit is politically motivated.

Now, the timing of the departures has made them politically significant. Makinde, who won the governorship in 2019 and secured re-election in 2023 on the platform of the PeoplesDemocratic Party, is now associated with the Allied Peoples Movement as he pursues wider political ambitions and supports Bimbo Adekanmbi for the Oyo governorship in 2027. The growing political landscape has placed relationships within the governor’s camp under greater scrutiny, particularly as rival parties and aspirants position themselves for the next election.

The All Progressives Congress has Senator Sharafadeen Alli as its governorship candidate, while other political actors are working to build alliances and mobilise supporters. In such an environment, the departure of an appointee can carry implications beyond the loss of an individual from government. Some officials have connections to political blocs, community leaders, party structures and grassroots supporters. Their next political steps, where disclosed, may therefore matter as much as their exit from public office.

Nevertheless, it would be premature to conclude that Makinde’spolitical influence is weakening solely because of the number of resignations. The more consequential questions are whether departing officials withdraw their political structures from his camp, whether they publicly align with rival parties, and whether their decisions affect mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

The administration’s ability to maintain effective governance while managing political disagreements will also be important. Resignations from security-related positions, for instance, raise questions about continuity and institutional capacity, even where replacements are appointed promptly.

Maybe, Makinde’s engineering background offers an explanation for his stated approach to pressure. His reference to safety and shutdown systems suggests a professional mindset shaped by identifying risks, anticipating system failures and ensuring that protective mechanisms work when required. In engineering, remaining calm during a potentially dangerous situation can help prevent a problem from escalating. Political leadership, however, involves variables that cannot always be controlled through technical planning.

People have independent interests, political loyalty can change, and decisions made by individual officials may have consequences that extend beyond their formal responsibilities. Consequently, the governor’s composure should not be mistaken for proof that the resignations pose no political risk. Nor should the departures, without further evidence, be interpreted as proof that his administration is in crisis.

A more reliable assessment would consider how the government responds, whether key functions remain effective, and whether the departures translate into measurable changes in political support. The same distinction applies to the reported appointment of replacements. Filling vacant positions can preserve administrative continuity, but it does not automatically resolve the political issues that may have contributed to the departures.

What happens next? The coming months may provide a clearer picture of whether the resignations are isolated personnel decisions or part of a wider realignment ahead of 2027. Public statements by the departing officials, their subsequent political affiliations and their activities within their constituencies will offer stronger evidence than speculation about their motives.

Makinde’s own political decisions will also be closely watched, particularly how he manages competing interests within his camp while pursuing his wider ambitions. For now, the resignations have raised questions about cohesion within the administration, but they have not, by themselves, established the extent of any political damage.

And this brings the focus back to the governor’s explanation of his composure. Makinde says his specialised engineering training has shaped the way he responds to pressure, teaching him to assess risks and anticipate what could go wrong rather than react with fear. Whether that approach will prove sufficient in passing through the political uncertainties ahead of 2027 remains to be seen. In politics, as in engineering, identifying a risk is only the first step; the real test lies in how effectively it is managed. The central question is therefore not simply why Makinde appears unafraid, but whether his administration can convert that composure into effective decisions, preserve its political relationships and maintain public confidence as the election approaches.