Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state is a man who have been credited to enjoy a great deal of street credibility.
His Media Team and “Olentelafas” are voiceferous about the Governor’s charismatic personality.
Honestly Governor Makinde latched on to this likeable personality cleverly woven by a section of the local Media during the early part of his first tenure as Governor.
The opposition in Oyo state have always maintained that everything about Governor Makinde starting from some of the projects done by him and the image issue are mere cosmetic.
There is no way you will critically look at Governor Makinde and you will not agree with the notion that most things about him are not original.
There is no doubt that both the Governor and his town criers have conceited opinions about his credibility ratings.
Even though, his reelection for a second term in office tends to lend credence to the claim of the Governor, a critical analysis of how he got reelected for the second term will definitely puncture such a conclusion.
Yet, the Governor’s popularity or none of it will always remain a debate until proven and the Governor does have an opportunity to settle this matter if he chose to.
Governor Makinde is a man who doesn’t often run away from challenges and I wish to throw him one.
The Local Government Election in Oyo state is coming up this April.
I think it will and should be an opportunity for the Governor to once again demonstrate his superiority over the opposition.
What if, like he did during COVID-19, where he chose a completely different method from the generally approved methods by the Federal Government in dealing with covid?
Governor Makinde and his admirers up until today kept referring to his “ingenious methods” during the covid as unique.
I think the Governor should go a step further now by allowing the Oyo state Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, to conduct a free, fair and transparent Local Government Election.
Good enough, the main opposition party, the APC is participating in the election.
I do not think the Governor should entertain any fears in ” trouncing” a party he was able to dispatch with ease during the gubernatorial and House of Assembly election.
Should he?
I also do not think Governor Makinde should require the assistance of the OYSIEC to win another ” landslide”.
There is no disputing the fact that the SIECs are tied to the aprons of the state Governors.
Governor Makinde, the king of the streets, in taking up the challenge should just release the OYSIEC from his apron and allow for a free, fair and transparent Local Government Election.
To demonstrate commitment, PMS thugs should have no business in this election beyond voting at their respective Local Governments.
I said this because I recollect that the Governor required this army of thugs to deal with recalcitrant opposition who dared to oppose the PDP in Ibarapa East and Ido Local Governments in 2021.
The Governor should also come out in clear terms to say that the Amotekun Corp have no business in the election process in line with a court judgement that had barred the Corp from participating in an election process.
The Governor must allow for the results of Elections to be announced at respective Local Government collation centres and not at the OYSIEC headquarters in Ibadan.
There is no Law that empowers OYSIEC to announce results at OYSIEC headquarters and the Governor should support OYSIEC to do the right thing.
I see no reason why Governor Makinde would find any of this steps difficult.
However, if he is unable to allow for this simple and lawful process, and will require shady methods to win in a local Government Election a few months after he recorded a ” landslide” victory over same opposition, then, both himself and those who pride him as one who enjoys street credibility must search their souls.
The opposition have dropped the gauntlet, it is left to be seen if Governor Makinde, in picking the gauntlet, will be man enough to engage without employing tricks.
I listened to one of his Commissioners recently describing Seyi Makinde as a more honest person than Chief Awolowo.
Let us see, if Governor Makinde will prove him right by maintaining restraint from rigging the forthcoming local Government Election because even the Great Awo, who his Commissioner claimed he surpassed in honesty never rigged any election.
