It’s interesting how the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi kept scoring goals against Governor Makinde from all angles.
If issues of policy formulation were a football game between the duo, I bet the late Ajimobi must have outscored Makinde by dozens margin.
Governor Makinde’s cosmetics approach to governance are beginning to give way under his second term tagged Omi Tuntun 2.0.
Most of the laudable policies of late Governor Ajimobi were reversed by Makinde during his first term.
The School Governing Board system which Ajimobi came up established to interface between the parents, Alumni associations and the school authorities with a view to seeing how the Bodies could aid Government in the smooth running of public secondary schools was cancelled by Makinde but have since been returned by him after realizing the importance of the scheme. 1-0.
The amendments to the Chiefs Laws of Oyo State which Ajimobi came up with was vehemently opposed by candidate Makinde and he wasted no time in ensuring that those who received the crowns as a result of Ajimobi’s reviews were forced to drop them when he became Governor only for him to return to the status quo when he did another review to the same Chiefs Laws which resulted in the return of the crowns to the Obas earlier crowned by Ajimobi. 2.0.
Though, Makinde in his characteristics manner attempted to twist and turn the scenarios leading to his own crowning of the High Chiefs, the truth is, his action is nothing but policy reversal since the end result is still a situation where those High Chiefs eventually received crowns.
Ordinarily, if Makinde saw a genuine need for further reviews, all he would have done was to sponsor a Bill to effect the necessary changes without necessary creating a scene.
Just recently, Governor Makinde announced the ban on street trading. Infact, a task force on compliance is already in place.
The question is, why did Makinde take us back to Egypt in his first four years?
Before his first term, street trading was history in Oyo State courtesy of Ajimobi’s policy banning same.
Governor Makinde came and supervised over the return to chaos occasioned by street trading.
Our roads and markets became chaotic for four years.
Governor Makinde rejected all entreaties by well meaning individuals, Groups and public commentators who begged him to do something about the ugly development.
Governor Makinde in justifying his adamance always said he could not ban street trading because if he did, ” kinni awon oloja yen fee maa je?” “what would they be eating “?
He would go on to further say that he himself once hawked on the streets.
Now that Makinde have banned street hawking, has he provided what those selling on the streets would be eating?
It is now clear that whatever Governor Makinde is doing, he is doing for himself.
When it was convenient for him to exploit the street trades for his second term ambition, he did by identifying with them and now that he no longer need them, he returned to status quo. 3.0.
Governor Makinde’s penchant for policy somersault is legendary. We will keep counting as he seems to be admitting realities.
Com. SOLA ABEGUNDE.
