Someday in history, it would be said that when a governor governs with wisdom, patience, doggedness, impact, forthrightness, foresight and humaneness, he must have the genes of Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde.
His political opponents, who always have their partisan glasses on, can accuse him of anything, but they cannot fault his deep passion for the people of Oyo State who cannot remember the last time they had a governor who rules with as an exemplar like Makinde. The popular slogan “Seyi seyi” was coined by the people to underscore the marked difference between his accomplishments and those of his peers and predecessors.
By his personality, style of governance initiatives and brand of politics, Makinde has become the face of everything new, desirable and admirable in politics and governance in Nigeria.
His philanthropic disposition rubs off a lot on the content and style of his governance and politics. His generosity manifest before and when he swent into politics announced loud andclear that he would change lives on a massive scale if he had the opportunity of spreading his spirit of kindness and delivering the good life to greater number of people if he had access to the resources and instrumentality of government. Here is a young man with good grasp of what power means and must be used for.
His passion for humanity got the much needed pedestal, when following his inauguration on May 29, 2019, he abolished the payment of N3,000 levy by secondary school pupils in the state and has successfully resisted the advice and pressure to send poor traders off the roadsides. Why take their livelihoods away when they are there because of failures of past governments? He has always insisted that he would provide a place before asking them to leave the streets. While the opposition described the decision as a sign of weakness and populism, the masses describe it as governance with human face!
As a matter of fact, the love for Makinde is massive. Hardly does any governor trend multiple times in a month on social media, especially Twitter, for good reasons. And so it is in the streets and at homes. His open declaration of assets and the setting up of an Oyo state anti-corruption agency as well as promise to waive constitutional immunity he enjoys, and appear before the corruption watchdog as well as the speed with which he retraces his steps when cited in error, are factors that drive the needle of public confidence in him up the scale.
In terms of governance, he brings tact, discipline, focus and intelligence, to play. An example is the handling of the COVID-19 crisis and the #EndSARS crisis which every other governors blamed for non-performance in the year 2020. Makinde took a cerebral route making evidence and information-based decisions, when other states took the easy route of lockdowns and the consequences that followed. During the crisis, Governor Makinde was driven by two factors – sound judgement about the behavior of the virus in Nigeria and the negative impact a total shutdown of business and human activities will have on the state’s humble economy.
In order not to be hamstrung by nationally and globally dwindling funds occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and fall in crude oil prices, his administration has adopted the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA) and Private Public Partnership (PPP), to aid the development of the state. This move is what the opposition, lacking understanding on how it works, have termed “voodoo” economics.
Recently, the governor was awarded “Best Governor of the Year 2020” by Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria. The group, in giving the award said the governor beat his 35 counterparts across the federation in the areas of infrastructural development, prompt payment of civil servants’ salaries and pensions, respect for human rights, innovation and level of indebtedness among others. While it is easy to argue that awards are relative, only members of the opposition class will a turn blind eye to the governor’s achievements in Education, Infrastructure, Health, Agriculture and Security, that made him best governor.
The governor started his pacesetting governance in the education sector by declaring truly free education and ensuring the distribution of free textbooks to pupils. Teachers are being taken care of and schools are wearing new looks. Tertiary education has never had it so good with the governor ensuring that they get their subventions timely. The recent ceding of the ownership of LAUTECH to Oyo State is one of the campaign promises that have been fulfilled, even though, he kept funding the school while the ownership battle lasted.
In the area of infrastructure, Oyo is about to witness a boom with the massive works going on. Already, road projects started under the previous administration of Late Senator Abiola Ajimobi are being seen to completion by the Makinde administration, but the biggest ones are coming through the ultra-modern bus terminals being constructed at major interchanges in the state, major road construction projects aimed at easing movements to Oke-Ogun the state’s agricultural belt, upgrading of the Lekan Salami Stadium and the proposed upgrading of the Ibadan Airport to international standard, will eventually make the state an investment destination and a tourist haven.
Makinde recently flagged off the construction of 360 housing units at the Ajoda New Town Estate, located on the New Ibadan-Ife Expressway, in Ibadan, to enhance affordable housing for all and sundry in the stat. The strategic location will ensure that the investors make quick returns on their investments.
There is massive investment in primary health care and the plan to convert the Adeoyo State Hospital to a teaching hospital will take health care to another level in the state.
He is also causing a revolution in the transportation sector with the procurement of 106 mass transit buses in addition to the Park Management System aimed at easing commuting and generating revenue for the state.
As part of his continuous efforts to beef up the state’s security apparatus, he recently handed over 25 operational vehicles fully equipped with communication gadgets to security agencies in the state. This is in addition to previous ones donated to the Nigerian Police and Operation Burst. He has also inaugurated and empowered the state command of the Western Nigeria Security Network a.k.a Amotekun, with what its chairman, Gen. Kunle Togun, a former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI) described as “a clear mandate to secure the entire state and ensure the peopthe sleep with their two eyes closed. “
Members of the opposition had labelled him “audio governor”, but the governor is not bothered because, according to him, all that will stop when he begins to commission most of the ongoing projects by next year.
Speaking at the 2020 Christmas Carol Service and Nine Lessons held at the Remembrance Arcade, opposite Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, he noted: “All the roads we are doing; bus terminals, Apete-Awotan road, Saki Township Road, Oroki-gbedu, Asipa Road, Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin, Akala Way and junction improvement from New Garage to Apata, will be commissioned in 2021.
“By then, our critics won’t be able to call me ‘audio governor’ again, because everyone would have seen the projects I have done to transform the state physically.”
His brand of politics is also something to behold as he plays the politics of simplicity and honesty, laced with boldness, and devoid of bitterness.
Despite being the only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor in the South West, his influence has been far-reaching in the setting up of Amotekun and in the call for restructuring. Despite his political difference, he reached agreement with Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola to cede LAUTECH to Oyo and end an age-long troubled partnership.
In recent times, there has been disquiet within his party in the state. But in line with his peace-loving nature, in June this year, he inaugurated a seven-man committee to look at agitations, grievances, unmet expectations of members of his party in the state. And most of the causes of the grievance have been communicated to him.
But the greatest political asset the governor has, is not allowing himself to be distracted by the naysayers and remaining grateful to those who deserve honour. First of all, he refrains from joining issues with opposition politicians, allowing his party and political aides to speak on his behalf.
Certain elements had tried to pitch him against the leaders of the political coalition that aided his election. It has been reported that his coalition associates like former governor, Rashidi Ladoja; Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, Chief Sharafadeen Alli and a host of others are unhappy with him, but the governor’s relationship with these leaders, point to the contrary.
Recently, Ladoja declared that Makinde was working to fulfil the dream he had for the state. The ex-governor spoke when they both paid a visit to the now operational Pacesetter Quarry and Asphalt Limited, Ijaiye.
Makinde is not just making the dreams of Ladoja come true. He is making those of Ajimobi come true by keeping alive, Ajimobi’s signature programmes like Operation Burst, School Governing Boards. among others.
Inclusion and welfare is also on top of his agenda. He has declared that his administration is determined to get more women, and other disadvantaged groups, involved in politics and governance in Oyo State. Whoever is in doubt of this, should examine the make-up of his cabinet.
Makinde is indeed a blessing to Oyo State. He came at a time that state needed a breath of fresh air. Was that why he was born on Christmas Day?
We must keep praying for this governor. In his time, new waters are flowing through the veins of the pacesetter state.
Happy birthday my Governor!
You have started well and you shall end well in Jesus Name!
Omituntun, Ìgbà Otun…