Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has urged residents of the state to commit concerns about who will succeed him into God’s hands.

Mr Makinde gave the admonition on Wednesday during the farewell ceremony for Oyo State Hajj 2026 intending pilgrims, held at Hajj Camp, Olodo, Ibadan.

“There has been a lot of discussions going on in Oyo State that the next governor should be a Muslim. I want to beg you and urge you to pray because the hearts of kings and chiefs are in God’s hands,” Mr Makinde said.

“You should pray that God should choose for us. That He should choose someone who can continue the good works undertaken by this administration,” he said.

The governor disclosed that there has been a series of discussions and insistence that a Muslim should succeed him in the 2027 election.

Against the backdrop of calls for a Muslim successor, the governor urged residents to pray for a leader who would sustain his administration’s initiatives.

Mr Makinde stated that for about three election cycles, Muslims have held Senatorial positions in the state.

He noted that cooperation between Muslims and non-Muslims has often contributed to the office holders’ election victories.

“Presently, all Senators representing Oyo State in Abuja are all Muslims. Senator Sharafadeen Alli, Senator Yunus Akintunde and Senator Fatai Buhari,” the governor stated.

Mr Makinde went further listing names of Muslims who occupied the Senatorial positions during the last election cycle and the one preceding it.

“Was it votes cast by Muslims only who got them elected? Let us unite ourselves. The progress of Oyo State should be what we should pray for. And our prayers will be answered,” Mr Makinde stated.

The governor urged residents in the state to embrace religious harmony, cooperation and inter-religious harmony.