The high point of the Splash FM gubernatorial debate of 2023 was the furore caused by Governor Seyi Makinde in a desperate bid to defend the former Chairman of the Oyo state Parks Management System, Mukaila aka Auxiliary.
The then gubernatorial candidate of the APC , Senator Teslim Folarin had alluded to the fact that the body language of Governor Makinde vis a vis his appointment of a notorious ex convict in person of Auxiliary didn’t help in the maintenance of peace in the state.
To Senator Folarin, the Governor’s continuous romance with Auxiliary who, at the material time was uncontrollable even by security forces was sending a bad signal.
Folarin opined that a critical Agency of Government such as the PMS was too important to be left in the hands of miscreants.
Governor Makinde, who was known then never to condone any attack against Auxiliary became livid and in a burst of anger began to spit fire and brimstone.
He faced up to Senator Folarin and said the APC gubernatorial candidate who was calling someone an ex convict himself had an issue relating to the murder of a Transport Union Leader, Eleweomo.
In a statement suggestive of a direct threat, Makinde said and I quote, ” who killed Elewomo? The file is still on my table”.
Folarin, who will have none of Makinde’s trash challenged him to take the file with him to court and stop the blabbings.
It was a spectacle that threatened the continuation of the debate.
Fast forward to this moment, it is clear that Folarin was clearly correct in his observation regarding Auxiliary and Makinde was completely wrong.
You will ask me why?
As we speak, Governor Makinde has terminated the appointment of Mukaila Auxiliary as the Chairman of the Oyo state PMS.
Not only that, the Governor and the Police have declared Auxiliary wanted on sundry allegations of crime which includes illegal possession of firearms.
In short, Auxiliary is presently a fugitive! The man Governor Makinde went overboard to defend and protect had been declared wanted by him within a spate of months when he was prepared to pull down a mountain in his defense.
The interesting thing is that rather than Folarin, Governor Makinde is having to deal with a file of his beloved associate, Auxiliary.
There is no doubt that Governor Makinde is a lover of cosmetic approach to issues.
He enjoys playing to the gallery each time he has the field.
The truth is, there was nothing to defend about Auxiliary as at the time he did.
This was a man who had series of criminal allegations on his neck.
He was fingered in the killings of about four people in Eruwa during the 2023 Local Government Election.
He was fingered in the incident at Iwo Road where a young man, Rahman lost his life.
The fact that he is an ex convict is not an issue for debate. He did served prison term in Lagos.
Except for ulterior motives, why would any reasonable person want to identify with such an individual not to talk of making him head of a Government Agency?
By the time Governor Makinde was abusing his office to defend him, even the blinds and the deaf knew what the man was capable of.
Now that Governor Makinde has a second term in office, I suggest he gets serious with many reasonable files calling for his attention.
He must ensure that the file of Auxiliary is not swept under the carpet.
It is not enough for him to just remove him from the office he never merited ab initio.
Governor Makinde must ensure that the fellow is fished out and made to atone for his many attrocities.
I also remember Governor Makinde promised to look into the issue of breach of the procurement regulations of Oyo state in his award of the printing of exercise books to his Broadcaster friend.
That is another file he should get serious with.
Not long ago, allegations of rots were flying around the management of the Shooting Stars Sports Club.
Those who are being alleged are appointees of the Governor. Those are files he must get serious with.
Making a fuss about some pseudo files with a view to scoring political points is beneath the Governor.
Governor Makinde thus have a lot of files to deal with under the Omi Tuntun 2.0 and the earlier he started, the better for him and whatever Legacy he plans to leave behind.
Immediately he leaves office, there will be so much files about the file keeper.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
