By Kamal Ganiyu Greatkamal (Alafin Agbede)
There comes a moment in the history of every great city when the glory of its past must become the ambition of its present, and the promise of its future must be defined by the courage of its people to demand more from history.
For Ibadan, that moment is now.
Ibadan is not merely a geographical expression on the map of Nigeria. It is a civilisation of courage, an institution of political consciousness, a reservoir of intellectual capital, and an enduring symbol of the Yoruba people’s resilience, enterprise, and capacity for self-determination.
Ibadan, the City of Warriors. Ibadan, the City of Firsts. Ibadan, the historic political headquarters of the former Western Region. Ibadan, the home of scholars, statesmen, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, and visionaries whose contributions have helped shape the political and cultural evolution of Nigeria.
From its emergence as a formidable warrior settlement to its transformation into one of Africa’s most historically significant urban centres, Ibadan has repeatedly demonstrated that greatness is not merely inherited; it is established through courage, sustained by vision, and preserved through purposeful action.
Yet, amid this remarkable heritage, one question remains both compelling and unavoidable: When will Ibadan translate the weight of its historical significance into a more decisive presence at the highest level of Nigeria’s political leadership?
This is not a question born of regional rivalry. It is a question of political consciousness, collective confidence, and the legitimate aspiration of a people whose contributions to Nigeria’s development deserve to be matched by an equally ambitious vision of national leadership.
Ibadan must never confuse political accommodation with political submission, nor should its traditional generosity and spirit of coexistence be mistaken for an inability to assert its interests. Our relationships with other cities and states in the Southwest should be strengthened through cooperation, mutual respect, and strategic partnerships. Nevertheless, such relationships must not diminish our capacity to articulate our own political aspirations or determine our place within the broader regional equation.
The political future of Ibadan must be negotiated from a position of confidence, competence, and strategic relevance.
We must move beyond the comfort of celebrating historical achievements and begin to confront the responsibility of converting those achievements into contemporary influence. A city that has contributed so profoundly to the political evolution of the Southwest must be prepared to participate decisively in determining the direction of Nigeria itself.
The question, therefore, is not whether Ibadan possesses the intellectual resources, population, political experience, cultural influence, or human capital to aspire to national leadership. The more consequential question is whether we are prepared to organise these assets into a coherent and sustainable political ambition.
Can Ibadan produce the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?
Why not?
Does Ibadan lack the intellectual depth required to understand the complexities of national governance? Does it lack the professionals, administrators, political thinkers, entrepreneurs, and public servants capable of contributing to the management of a diverse and sophisticated federation? Does our historical experience suggest an inability to lead?
Certainly not.
Nigeria’s presidency is a constitutional office, not the inherited possession of any geographical location, ethnic nationality, or political establishment. Every qualified Nigerian has the right to aspire to it, and no community should be conditioned by history or political convention to believe that the nation’s highest office lies permanently beyond its reach.
Ibadan must therefore develop a political culture in which national ambition is encouraged, leadership capacity is deliberately cultivated, strategic alliances are intelligently pursued, and credible candidates are supported on the strength of their competence, vision, character, and capacity to unite the country.
Our challenge is not the absence of potential. It is the imperative of transforming potential into political purpose.
For all its historic contributions to Nigerian politics, Ibadan has yet to produce a substantive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is not a reason for despair, nor should it become a grievance against other parts of the country. Rather, it should inspire a renewed determination to prepare our people for greater responsibilities and position our city more strategically within the national political conversation.
A glorious past should not become a permanent substitute for a greater future.
It is against this background that I consider Governor Seyi Makinde, ọmọ Olatunbosun, a political figure whose potential national ambition deserves serious consideration.
For me, Makinde represents an opportunity to expand the boundaries of Ibadan’s political imagination and to encourage our people to participate more confidently in the national leadership conversation. His supporters point to his administrative experience, strategic outlook, and approach to governance as important considerations in assessing his suitability for broader responsibilities.
I believe he possesses qualities that could contribute meaningfully to the national conversation about institutional reform, economic opportunity, public accountability, and the urgent need to restore citizens’ confidence in governance.
My support for him is a political conviction founded on the belief that Nigeria needs leadership capable of transcending narrow interests, reconciling diverse aspirations, strengthening public institutions, and creating an environment in which ordinary citizens can live with dignity and pursue their ambitions without unnecessary barriers.
However, the significance of this aspiration extends beyond one individual. It speaks to the confidence of Ibadan as a city, the political maturity of its people, and the importance of ensuring that regional origin does not become a limitation on national ambition.
Supporting an Ibadan son is not a declaration against other Nigerians; it is an affirmation that Ibadan, too, has a place in the national imagination.
Our country requires leadership that understands the intricate relationship between national unity and regional diversity, between economic development and social justice, and between political authority and public responsibility. Any presidential aspiration must ultimately be tested against these national obligations.
I believe Governor Makinde deserves serious consideration within that conversation, and I am prepared to express my political preference with conviction while recognising that the ultimate test of leadership is the capacity to serve Nigeria as a whole.
My attachment to Ibadan, however, extends far beyond electoral calculations.
I am Kamal Ganiyu Greatkamal, a proud indigene of Agbède Adodo Compound, Ibadan, a heritage I associate with the historic blacksmithing tradition of our people. My identity as an Ọmọ Ọkọ Ibadan is both a source of pride and a reminder that heritage carries obligations. To belong to a great city is to inherit not only its name but also the responsibility of contributing to its continued greatness.
I desire an Ibadan whose young people are equipped with quality education, technological competence, entrepreneurial opportunities, and the intellectual confidence to compete in an increasingly demanding world. I envision a city where indigenous businesses thrive, investment expands, community institutions grow stronger, and economic opportunities are not limited by background, connections, or circumstance.
I want to see an Ibadan that competes confidently with the world’s leading cities, not merely in population or historical reputation, but in innovation, infrastructure, human development, commercial vitality, and the quality of life available to its residents.
Above all, I want to see a generation of Ibadan sons and daughters who no longer approach national leadership as a distant privilege reserved for others, but as a legitimate responsibility for which they can prepare and qualify.
The true measure of a city’s greatness is not simply the number of historic achievements it can recount. It is the extent to which those achievements inspire contemporary excellence and create opportunities for future generations.
Ibadan’s greatness must not remain an archive of glorious memories; it must become a living force in shaping Nigeria’s future.
It is in the spirit of this conviction that I, Kamal Ganiyu Greatkamal, together with my family, declare our support for Governor Seyi Makinde and his potential presidential aspiration.
Our decision reflects our belief in the political capacity of Ibadan, our confidence in the possibility of a qualified son of our city emerging to lead Nigeria, and our desire to see the city assume a more consequential place in the nation’s political future.
We understand that national leadership demands more than regional pride. It requires competence, integrity, national acceptance, strategic discipline, and a demonstrable commitment to the welfare of all Nigerians. It also requires the ability to build bridges across political, ethnic, religious, and geographical differences.
It is our expectation that any national leadership aspiration associated with Ibadan will be advanced through these principles and sustained by a vision capable of uniting the country around shared opportunities and common responsibilities.
For us, this is bigger than a political endorsement. It is a statement of confidence in our people, an invitation to rethink our place in Nigeria, and a call for a new generation to embrace ambition without surrendering the values of humility, service, and responsibility.
Let our youths dream beyond inherited limitations. Let our political leaders cultivate alliances beyond familiar boundaries. Let our professionals and entrepreneurs contribute their expertise to the development of our city. Let our traditional institutions, community leaders, and stakeholders recognise that Ibadan’s future will depend not only on what history has given us, but also on what we are collectively prepared to build.
Ibadan is the City of Warriors, but our greatest battles today must be fought through ideas, education, enterprise, political organisation, and the courage to pursue excellence.
Ibadan is the City of Firsts, but our next defining achievement must be determined by the opportunities we create, the institutions we strengthen, and the leadership we prepare.
Ibadan is a city of intellectuals and visionaries, but intellectual distinction must translate into practical influence if it is to fulfil its highest purpose.
The time has come to elevate our political conversation from the celebration of ancestry to the pursuit of possibility; from historical recognition to strategic relevance; and from the pride of belonging to the responsibility of building.
The question is no longer whether Ibadan has a reason to aspire to Nigeria’s highest office. The question is whether we are prepared to organise our strengths, build the necessary alliances, and pursue that aspiration with unity, competence, and unwavering determination.
My answer is an emphatic yes.
I am Kamal Ganiyu Greatkamal (Alafin Agbede), a proud son of Agbède Adodo Compound, Ibadan North-West Local Government Area, Oyo State.
My pride is rooted in my heritage. My commitment is to the advancement of my people. My confidence is in the untapped possibilities of Ibadan. And my political choice is Governor Seyi Makinde for President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, should he pursue that ambition.
May Ibadan rise beyond the limitations of convention, embrace the possibilities of its future, and take its rightful place in the continuing story of Nigeria.
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ iwájú, Ibadan!
Ibadan ló ní ká gbé ga!
The greatness of Ibadan is not merely what our forebears achieved; it is what we have the courage, wisdom, and determination to achieve in our own time.
KAMAL GANIYU GREATKAMAL
(Alafin Agbede)
Proud Son of Agbède Adodo Compound
Ibadan North-West Local Government Area, Oyo State.
