Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, no doubts, has a deep affection for Botswana.
Before he became Governor in 2019, he made a promise to ensure that Oyo state will be exporting maize to Botswana if he won the election.
Curiously, the Governor has not been able to fulfill this promise five years after he became Governor.
Naturally, a lot of us wondered about the logic behind the exportation of maize to Botswana, wondering if the local currency in Botswana was stronger than the Nigerian Naira at the time.
However, the Governor seems to have rediscovered his peculiar love for Botswana as it has been reported that he has allegedly appointed a citizen of Botswana to his Government.
According to the report, Governor Makinde has approved the appointment of 40 years old Ms. Neo Thaselo as Special Adviser on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) & International Trade.
It has been alleged that Ms. Thaselo is a citizen of Botswana.
Until Governor Makinde comes out to provide clarifications on the roles of the Special Adviser and why a foreigner is being considered for such roles, it might be save to opine that perhaps, it is time for Oyo state to start shipping maize to Botswana.
If not, then, the Governor must convince us of the better reasons for this cross country appointment.
I am aware that the spokesperson to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a Nigerian but I think Ajuri Ngilale’s job is well divined.
Though, I must quickly add that I frown at a situation where a foreigner would be considered to do a job which a Nigerian could do and even do better.
If I’m not mistaken, Governor Makinde would perhaps be the first Governor to appoint a foreigner as Special Adviser.
It also does look like the portfolio given to the woman from Botswana by Governor Makinde is novel.
I think the citizens of Oyo state will deserve a vivid explanations on the reasons why a foreigner would be appointed as Special Adviser in Oyo state and for what special purpose.
Is it that the expertise that the alleged Botswana woman possesses could not be found in Oyo state or anywhere in Nigeria?
The Portfolio itself looks curious.
What benefits will come to Oyo state from the African free trade area and international trade the foreigner has been appointed to advise on?
What manner of trade is Oyo state looking at to participate in the areas in concern?
What are the terms of engagement between Oyo state and the woman in question?
A Special Adviser is supposed to be a member of the Executives Council of the state.
Is it that the woman in question has been living in Nigeria or whether she will relocate or she will be wherever she is and be drawing salaries and allowances for a job she’s not going to be physically present for?
The most important issue is for Governor Makinde to explain vividly, exactly what the foreign National is bringing to the table and how it will positively impact on the citizens of Oyo state.
We have listened to a lot of big Grammar in respect of Agri-business with nothing to show for it in terms of food sufficiency.
Is this another Grammar blowing adventure that will yield nothing positive to better the lots of the citizens of Oyo state?
If this will provide the avenues for the long awaited exportation of our maize to Botswana, as promised by the Governor, we might say he did promised that and proceed to the next worry of the logic behind the choice of Botswana.
Even at that, where are the maize?
Instead of the Governor to engage in direct and massive farming, he has continued to waste resources on Agri-business.
If the Government of Seyi Makinde was serious about exporting maize to Botswana or even Cotonou, it would have made use of the massive Land mass which Oyo state is blessed with and which is suitable for the planting of maize, cassava, cashew, palm fruits ,cocoa, potatoes, tomatoes, pepper, water melon, oranges and many more food and cash crops.
Most of these crops are perennial plants which will yield between months and just a year.
Even, if the Governor had invested in the cultivation for crops like Cashew, Cocoa and palm fruits, they would have been yielding fruits by now.
That is how to establish a legacy not by engaging in ventures where you will require big Grammar to explain yourself to the citizens without them seeing or feeling any impact of your Grammar.
Governor Makinde loves to be seen as an innovative Leader but unfortunately, most, if not all of his innovations are better referenced as specimens of theories.
The Light Up Oyo state project, the ventures in Agri-business, the OYACA, the extravagant Garages and many more are not innovations that would stand the test of time.
I won’t be surprised if Governor Makinde’s latest appointment and portfolio is another of such Grammar blowing adventure which will bring nothing concrete to the table.
At any rate, it might be bad for the state but it will definitely afford the alleged woman from Botswana to smile to the Banks with the resources of Oyo state.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
