The Director-General of Opomulero Group/Movement, Hon. Olasupo Olakunori Michael, has described Aremo Sehinde Ilegbusi’s article, “The Governor in Incubation: The Journey from Akoko to Alagbaka,” as an indication that the 2028 succession debate is beginning far earlier than necessary.

According to him, the most important issue at this stage should not be the political promotion of any individual to Alagbaka, but the responsibilities currently before those already occupying public offices.

THE MINISTER STILL HAS A FULL AGENDA BEFORE HIM

While discussing the political future of Hon. Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, it is important to distinguish between political ambition and present responsibility.

As Minister of Interior, Tunji-Ojo continues to oversee a ministry with major national responsibilities, including immigration and correctional services.

That record should therefore be examined comprehensively—not only through achievements cited by political supporters, but also through the challenges that remain unresolved.

Questions surrounding Nigerians experiencing difficulties with passport and immigration services abroad, as well as the persistent challenges of congestion and conditions within correctional facilities, remain legitimate areas for public scrutiny.

The point is not to dismiss whatever progress may have been recorded.

The point is simple:

Public office comes with continuing responsibilities, and unfinished responsibilities should receive attention before political succession becomes the dominant conversation.

WHY START THE GOVERNORSHIP CONVERSATION NOW?

Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is still in office and his administration is still implementing its programme.

The political argument that another politician is already a “Governor in Incubation” therefore naturally raises a question about timing.

Why should the political conversation about replacing the sitting governor dominate public discourse when the administration still has substantial time to implement its policies and demonstrate its performance?

Aiyedatiwa should be judged by what his administration does in office.

Likewise, anybody aspiring to succeed him should ultimately be judged by his or her own record, ideas, experience, policy proposals and ability to address Ondo State’s challenges.

That is a more meaningful democratic examination than prematurely presenting anyone as the inevitable next occupant of Alagbaka.

AIYEDATIWA HAS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO SEEK A SECOND TERM

This point must be stated boldly and without ambiguity:

Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has a constitutional right to seek a second term as Governor of Ondo State, subject to the constitutional and electoral requirements.

Nobody’s early declaration of political ambition can extinguish that right.

Nobody’s political article can cancel it.

Nobody’s succession arrangement can cancel it.

And nobody should speak about 2028 as though the incumbent Governor has already been removed from the political equation.

If Governor Aiyedatiwa decides to seek another term, he has every right to present himself to his party and, ultimately, to the electorate.

Of course, constitutional eligibility is not the same thing as an automatic electoral mandate. The people will ultimately decide through the electoral process.

But eligibility must not be deliberately confused with inevitability of defeat, just as another person’s ambition must not be confused with an entitlement to succeed him.

The proper democratic sequence is straightforward:

Aiyedatiwa has the constitutional right to seek a second term. Other qualified aspirants have the right to seek the office. Political parties will conduct their processes. And the electorate will ultimately decide.

That is democracy.

THE AKEREDOLU–AIYEDATIWA SUCCESSION ALSO MATTERS

There is another historical and political issue that cannot simply be ignored.

The administration of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu came from Ondo North.

Following his tenure, Ondo South produced the incumbent Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.

If political actors are going to invoke the principle of rotation in discussing the future of Ondo State, then they must be prepared to examine the entire historical sequence rather than selectively invoke rotation whenever it serves a particular political ambition.

The question therefore deserves to be asked:

After Ondo North and Ondo South, how should the Central Senatorial District be considered in the next phase of the state’s political rotation?

That conversation cannot simply be swept aside.

AKURE CENTRAL ALSO HAS A LEGITIMATE POLITICAL ASPIRATION

Ondo Central is part of Ondo State.

Akure is the state capital.

The people of Akure and the wider Central Senatorial District have political aspirations just like the people of Ondo North and Ondo South.

Therefore, anybody attempting to predetermine the 2028 succession must also answer the question of how the legitimate aspirations of Ondo Central fit into the historical rotation of political power in the state.

The future of Ondo State cannot be reduced to the ambition of one individual or one political bloc.

Every senatorial district deserves consideration.

Every qualified aspirant deserves scrutiny.

And every political argument about rotation must be applied consistently.

LET US STOP CONFUSING AMBITION WITH MANDATE

The phrase “Governor in Incubation” may be politically attractive, but it does not create an electoral mandate.

No article can appoint a governor.

No political platform can confer a constitutional mandate.

No early campaign can substitute for the eventual decision of the electorate.

And, most importantly, no politician’s ambition can constitutionally erase the incumbent governor’s right to seek another term.

If Hon. Tunji-Ojo eventually chooses to seek the governorship, he should present his record, his ideas and his detailed programme for Ondo State.

If Governor Aiyedatiwa chooses to seek another term, he equally has the right to present his record and ask the people for their support.

Other aspirants should face the same examination.

That is the democratic standard.

THE REAL QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ABOUT GOVERNANCE

Instead of asking who is already “in incubation,” Ondo people should be asking:

What has each potential leader actually delivered?

What responsibilities remain unfinished?

What is the person’s economic strategy for Ondo State?

How will jobs be created?

How will industrial investment be attracted?

How will education and healthcare be improved?

How will security be strengthened?

How will the state’s finances be managed?

How will Akoko, Owo, Ondo, Akure, Ilaje, Okitipupa and every other part of the state benefit?

And most importantly:

What is the candidate’s plan for the next eight years, and what evidence demonstrates the capacity to implement it?

That is the standard that should guide the conversation.

AIYEDATIWA SHOULD NOT BE POLITICALLY RETIRED BEFORE THE PEOPLE DECIDE

Governor Aiyedatiwa should not be treated as a political afterthought simply because succession politics has begun.

He is the sitting Governor.

He has a constitutional right to seek another term.

His administration should be scrutinised.

Its achievements should be documented.

Its shortcomings should be identified.

Its policies should be debated.

And if he chooses to seek another term, the electorate will have the opportunity to assess his record and make its decision.

Nobody has the constitutional authority to retire Governor Aiyedatiwa from the 2028 contest before Governor Aiyedatiwa himself decides whether he will contest and before the electorate has spoken.

That distinction is fundamental.

AT OPOMULERO, THE POSITION IS CLEAR

At Opomulero, our position is straightforward:

Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has the constitutional right to seek a second term.

No politician should be crowned Governor of Ondo State in advance.

No incumbent should be politically retired before the electorate has spoken.

No political article should be presented as an electoral verdict.

And no region’s legitimate aspiration should be dismissed without a serious examination of Ondo State’s political history and the principle of rotation.

The 2028 conversation will come.

When it does, let it be about records, responsibility, policies, capacity, constitutional rights, regional balance and the future of Ondo State—not political coronation by commentary.

Aiyedatiwa has a constitutional right to seek another term. The people have the constitutional right to decide.

Alagbaka is a constitutional office, not an inheritance—and nobody has been handed the keys in advance.