Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state looks like he has completely lost his mind as a result of the shock he received from the outcome of the Legal tussle between the Federal Government and the 36 State Governors.
The babies have been slapped and the cries have been loud but the baby in Oyo state has refused to be placated and is ready to pull down the country.
He is not only crying. He is wailing and spoiling for war against not only the Supreme Court but also against the Federal Government and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Governor Makinde wants to do what no Governor or any individual for that matter, however highly placed, has ever done.
Seyi Makinde will ” review” the judgment of the Apex Court in the Land without recourse to the same Court.
News have broken this afternoon that Governor Makinde has set up two different Committees to review the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Let me be clear, the Governor, according to his Attorney general, is set to determine the extent to which he will obey the judgment.
Addressing an emergency ” consultative stakeholders meeting”, Governor Makinde said and I quote, ” I believe a lacuna has been created between the decision and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We all swore to uphold the constitution but the law is the law. If the law is in conflicts, it behoves on us to LOOK FOR OUR OWN HOME GROWN SOLUTION “…(emphasis mine).
Those are extremely dangerous words coming from the Governor of a state against the judgment of the Apex Court of the Land.
As at the time Governor Makinde was making those derogatory remarks, his Attorney general confirmed that they were yet to be served with the CTC of the said Judgment.
There is nothing wrong in having issues with the judgment of any court, the Supreme court inclusive.
The only option open to Governor Makinde at this point is to approach the same Court and seek clarifications by way of review and not to resort to self help.
If the law is in conflicts in Governor Makinde’s views, where in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is he empowered to ” look for own grown solutions”?
You can not eat your cake and have it at the same time.
So also can you build something on nothing.
The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that creates the position of the Governor is also the same document that recognizes the Supreme court of Nigeria and the decisions of the court shall be final in every respect.
The law is what the supreme court says it is and once pronounced by the Supreme court, it is not open to the whims and caprices of any Governor.
Governor Makinde also said and I quote “… You make the laws, you break it …. that is not how to run a country. For us in Oyo state, we can solve our own problems…”.
I don’t understand Governor Makinde’s extra headache on this matter.
What interest does he have on this matter that should be far and above that of an ordinary citizen of Oyo state?
The last time I checked, citizens of Oyo state are comfortable, happy and are favorably receptive to the judgment of the Supreme court.
The Local Government Chairmen are not complaining.
So, why has the Governor chosen to wail louder than the bereaved?
As far as I’m concerned, once the Supreme court delivered Its verdict in favour of financial Autonomy to the Local Governments, every actions of the Governor in opposition to the said Judgment is tantamount to busy bodying.
The Governor read a long lists of how he had managed the issues of salaries, allowances and gratuities of teachers, Local Government staffs and pensioners.
On behalf of the good people of Oyo state, I wish to thank him so much but at this point, his interventions are no longer needed. In fact, his interventions have become illegal moving forward.
He was elected by the people of Oyo state as Governor and his responsibilities does not include the supervisions of the Local Governments.
I don’t know why the Governor would decide to keep holding on to an extra burden of running the 33 Local Governments when actually he should be relieved that the Supreme court has decided to lessen his burdens.
Governor Makinde is a serial contemnor. One who would have been punished for contempt of court severally if not for the fact that he enjoys immunity by virtue of section 308 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
I could see that he still has issues with the judgment of the Apex Court in respect of his illegal dissolution of the Local Governments.
He could not understand why the Supreme court refused to agree with him that he was right in dissolving the Local Governments because of his position that elections were ” illegally “conducted in the LCDAs.
Governor Makinde is an Ostrich.
By the time he was canvassing this point, he had already appointed Caretaker to the Local Governments and the LCDAs!
Let me tell the Governor that the issues at hand have gone beyond his usual acrobatics.
Any attempts by him to confront the Supreme court would be tantamount to treason and I’m sure even section 308 of the constitution will not avail him.
It is the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria we are talking about here not some Chieftaincy Declaration Laws that he could treat with disdain.
Oyo state is just one state out of the 36 states of the Federation. Just as Makinde is just one out of the 36 state Governors.
Why is he the one fighting tooth and nails making all sorts of noise?
The other time he was implying that the judgment is just a distraction and that the president must be ashamed for importing food items.
He might be right about the issue of importation of food but some Governors, Makinde inclusive must be more ashamed of themselves.
After perhaps Niger state, Oyo state has the largest arable land mass.
What has Governor Makinde done to alleviate the problems of the high costs of food?
The Governor of Niger state and many other states have demonstrated practical commitments to the issue of food sufficiency in their domains.
What do we have in Oyo state? Audio promises of Botswana maize and the likes.
We just heard that Governor Makinde have started selling Farm Settlements and Cashew plantations in Eruwa.
So, where did he get the mouth to criticize Tinubu?
The president has consistently been releasing grains to the state Governors. What has happened to the ones collected by Governor Makinde in respect of Oyo state?
It is obvious that the pot of soup has been taken away from the Governor.
He should manage his bruised egos and frustrations with some degree of dignity.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.