Dear Governor Seyi Makinde,
Good morning your excellency.
No doubt, even though I know you are a very busy person, yet I will be glad if you can spare few minutes out of your precious time to read my open letter written to you.
Your excellency, eversince you became our governor, you have been a very busy person, and that apparently has a lot to tell about your emergence as governor of this state. You are a very busy and consistent person, no doubt about that because everybody can see it.
I encountered you one-on-one in Gbagi/Ogunpa market right here in the city of Ibadan in 2015 during one of your campaigns in the build up towards the 2015 general election.
Though you were not as popular as you are today but a lot of people were seen eager and gathered to listen to you around the famous Broken House in Gbagi.
As SDP guber standard-bearer in 2015 general election, you were just coming to the spotlight on the political arena at the time.
That afternoon, in the Gbagi market, you had about four mobile police officers attached to your entourage. Your driver nearly hit me with the SUV in which you were seated with other aides as he tried to pull over to the side of the road for you to come down from the vehicle to address your waiting audience.
I looked at your direction with so much anger covering my face but the anger vanished immediately from my face when you rolled down the glass and said to me ‘SORRY MY BROTHER’.
Your humility did the wonderful magic on me that very day which I will never live to forget.
I was so touched and got humiliated with the style of your humility. It really got me, and that alone spurred my love for you since that day, because you could have worn a stern bold face and nothing would have happened. But you did not.
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To the reason why I am writing you sir.
Your excellency, I know that the politics in Oyo State is gradually heating up, and many amongst your seeming trusted allies have turned their backs against you for pure political reasons.
Many of them are crying foul today, and to the extent of dubbing you different derogatory names like INAROBO and AUDIO GOVERNOR.
It is laughable though, but we must not pretend as if we don’t understand their pains and grievances, of which cannot rub off the fact that many of them are into politics simply to permanently secure their regular source of ‘amala and obẹ gbẹgiri’.
And to the good people of Oyo State, the impression is – you didn’t allow them to loot public treasury as it used to be.
Now, do we really have to lose a sleep over these crops of politicians if the good people of Oyo State not only read in the papers but see with their eyes the fulfillment of your campaign promises?
Do we really have to worry about the ‘Jẹgújẹrás’ in politics if people can feel the positive touch of your governance in their lives as individuals?
Do we really have to worry over the enemies and haters who live outside your camp when you remain in good term with the good people of Oyo State that live happily with you in the camp?
The good people of the camp are the people of this state who trusted you by voting you into power in 2019. And they are the ones you must not let down, they are the ones you owe all allegiance to, and not the career politicians that are only up to the game to loot and devour public treasury.
The only one thing I don’t want you to take with levity is – the people.
Let us leave those ‘Jẹgújẹrás’ alone for now and concentrate on the welfare of the good people of the state.
It is no doubt that the electorates are getting wiser and wiser and they are the only ones you must not let down nor take for granted.
Developmental projects you put in place, public infrastructures, roads, schools and hospitals you build shall hence definitely speak for you at the polls and enemies shall be put to shame.
Your excellency, many amongst your former allies and friends keep saying you disappointed them.
Many said you did not keep to the promises you made with them before the election.
Some said you betrayed the binding arrangements of the coalition that brought you to power.
But I am sure all their shallow excuses shall be defeated at the polls if you will not renege on the electoral promises you made to the people of Oyo State before the 2019 general election.
We are aware of their tactics – using religion is one of their propaganda to spread lies and biles in order to deceive the gullible ones, and this can no longer stand again because the good people of the state have moved above their pettiness.
The various handful gang-ups that sprang up against you can only be put to shame if all promises you made to the good people of Oyo State are kept and fulfilled.
Don’t let us forget that 2023 is fast approaching, and everything that needs to be done must be done in time without foot-dragging so it won’t be too late.
Your excellency, you must be ready to rejig your efforts so people can see the results of your governance with their own eyes.
With all these, I am sure success is assured.
Thank you 🙏
Yours sincerely
Oladele Idowu Joseph
Today.
