A massive wind is blowing in Oyo state and like a chicken caught in the wind, the feathers could no longer cover the Governor’s rump.
The Governor Of Oyo state is trending seriously these days and for so many wrong reasons.
Health workers in Oyo state Hospitals have been on strike for two months.
The recruitment exercise in the Oyo state Road Maintenance Agency has become an issue where those who have been working for the Agency for the past five years on a temporary basis have been alleging scam in the process of permanent employment.
Governor Makinde also stirred the hornet’s nest during the coronation of the Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin when he decided to enclose a controversial gazette in the pamphlets of the program of events for the coronation.
The general consensus is that the gazetted Law is targeted at the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan Land, High Chief Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
Though, the Governor has denied this insinuations through his Commissioner for Information, the denial is lame to say the least.
As if that was not enough, the Governor, on two occasions, within 24 hours this week,made series of reckless statements about the judgment of the Supreme court of Nigeria which granted financial Autonomy to Local Governments in Nigeria.
First, he described the judgment as a ” distraction” and on another occassion, he said he has set up committees to ” review” the judgment of the Apex Court which he felt has ” created a lacuna” in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Governor Makinde must be genuinely worried recently.
For the whole of his first term in office and until very recently, Governor Makinde was untouchable.
From within and outside of Oyo state, Nigeria and ofcourse, abroad, not many will ever find faults in whatever position the Governor took, no matter how absurd.
At a point, he was generally regarded as the pride of the PDP Governors and at another time he was referred to as the ” poster boy ” of the G-5.
Governor Seyi Makinde had festered where many slipped and fell.
Who would have thought that a Governor, seeking a second term in office would be bold to publicly declare that he did not believe in the Independence of the Local Governments during a gubernatorial debate without regretting such statements?
Makinde did it and went away with it.
Who would have thought that a first term Governor would indulge a thug, who had been fingered in several murder cases as he did with Auxiliary without getting his fingers burnt?
Makinde did it. In fact, during the gubernatorial debate of 2023, Governor Makinde, in reply to a question by Edmund Obilo asked the ace broadcaster to show him a more qualified person than Auxiliary.
So, why would things suddenly change for Governor Makinde to the extent that he has become a laughing stock on both the online and the regular Media?
The answer is not far fetched. ” Ohun ti a se ti a fi niyi naa la nse te”. Whatever is capable of bringing you praises and honor is also capable of bringing you shame and dishonor.
With due respect to the Governor, he is a man who believes so much in mischief.
Yorubas call it ” abosi”. If you trace the political trajectory of Governor Seyi Makinde, you will discover that his path were laden with mischief here and there.
In 2019, a group of politicians got together to ensure that the late Governor Ajimobi did not install a Successor.
Governor Makinde was the beneficiary of the coming together of those politicians who were unified in purpose by former Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
Many of those who participated in that adventure are currently cursing the day the agreement to allow Makinde to be the face of the coalition was made.
His erstwhile Deputy, Eng. Rauf Olaniyan was villified for no reason and was eventually removed through an impeachment on trump up charges.
As Governor, his said and done were at variance.
He brought the mischief from the political field to governance.
He first made sure that the finances of the 33 Local Governments were under his control.
An embargo was placed on the Bank Accounts of the Local Governments for several months for sinister motives.
The Governor, deceitfully ensured that he paid the salaries and allowances of civil servants promptly, even if it meant using the monthly Allocations of the Local Governments as collateral for Loans.
Some contracts of ongoing Road projects awarded by his predecessor in office were cancelled and reawarded at higher costs.
Loans taken in respect of Road infrastructures by the previous Administration were diverted to phony Agricultural purposes.
Several Agricultural summits outside the country were attended by the Governor and his ” Team”.
A whopping 28 billion Naira was wasted on a white elephant project called Light Up Oyo state.
OYSADEP was scrapped and another Agency was established to replace it.
Some youths were sent to Nassarawa state for some training in Agriculture.
So much promise and high hopes. Oyo was to make good money from the exporting of maize to Botswana!
So much was going on and 2023 was upon us.
Governor Makinde also, mischievously joined a Group of five Governors to destroy the PDP in favour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC.
As reward, Makinde got elected for a second term and was initially in good terms with Aso Rock.
In his usual characteristics manner, Governor Makinde became Tinubu’s tormentor in chief when it appeared that Nigerians are disenchanted from the president due to the harsh Economic policies.
Unfortunately for Governor Makinde, a series of events in recent times have exposed him for who he truly is.
As much as the Governor would want to shift the blames for high cost of food on the president, many citizens of Oyo have woken to the realities that they need to hold the Governor to account for the billions of Naira wasted on Agri-business with nothing to show for it.
Citizens of Oyo state are now asking the Governor why the billions of Naira wasted on Agri-business ventures have not resulted in food sufficiency.
In Ibarapa Land, citizens are asking why a road of about 50km from Ido to New Eruwa junction is taking till eternity to be completed after many failed promises.
The people of Eruwa are asking why the Eruwa Farm Settlement is now being processed for sale instead of the promises of upgrade to an Agric hub by Governor Makinde.
They are equally asking why the Governor would have to sell the Eruwa Cashew plantation established by Awolowo.
Governor Makinde’s decision to sell two Agricultural establishments in Eruwa portrays him as one who likes to speak with both sides of the mouth.
Here is someone who is lamenting that there is hunger and anger in the Land, calling out the Federal Government as a result of that.
Now, it is apposite to ask Governor Makinde to justify his sales of the Eruwa Farm Settlement and the Cashew plantation and tell us how that will enhance food sufficiency.
Citizens are also asking why the turf of the refurbished Adamasingba Sports Complex is now being rejected by the NPFL as being sub standard and not fit for use next season.
The refurbishing of the Complex cost a whopping 5 billion Naira!
Oyo state citizens are not forgetting to wonder why the Agbowo shopping complex would be mortgaged for fifty years for just 5 billion Naira and why the Complex have remained an eye sore and not to forget the indiscriminate sales of Government reserved Land in the state capital.
The many lies and failed promises made to the Health workers are the reasons they have been on strike for two months.
Even though, Governor Makinde and High Chief Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja were one in fighting against Ajimobi over the latter’s attempt to amend the Olubadan Chieftaincy Law in 2019 and that issue formed a significant campaign point against Ajimobi’s APC at the time, the same Makinde, as Governor have embraced the same position as Ajimobi and is attempting to fight his benefactor with it.
The backlash that Makinde is currently facing for tampering with the Olubadan Chieftaincy Law in a way that is suggestive of targeting Ladoja is child’s play to what lies ahead.
Our people have a saying that if you prepare the ingredients for your soup with mischief, the soup is bound to waste. ” A kii fi abosi da omi obe ko ma ru pa ina”.
Governor Makinde has employed mischief to win election twice as Governor. He has run his first term on mischief.
There is no way he could have succeed running his second term successfully on mischief.
Karma is real. If not, how will one explain the unexpected Judgment of the Supreme court that is causing the Governor sleepless nights?
How will one explain the fact that Governor Makinde, during the gubernatorial debate declared that he wasn’t in support of Local Government Autonomy and he was hailed and the same Governor Makinde is now being villified for maintaining his earlier position?
The coming days are surely going to be very tough for the Governor considering the rumors flying around.
If it is true that the secret magic of the Governor is the mortgaging of the monthly Allocations of the 33 Local Governments as guarantee for Loans, then, the rump of the chicken will be seriously exposed.
His case is like that of man who planted a hundred tubers of yam but claimed to have planted two hundred tubers, when he finishes eating the hundred, he will have to pretend to enjoy the non existent hundred.
I think the time for Governor Makinde to eat his fake hundred yam is here.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
