By Theophilus Keme
From all indications it is clear to admit that Governor Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde still remains one of Nigerians political amazons that we should look out for in the coming aforementioned years. As he is, he still very much seem to have the political charm to be in the big league of the federation.
Rumors may remain mere rumors, grapevines, and be nothing to give much considerable attention if it was believed to have only been created in sensitive times of election. Created in times when political parties and politicians are all jostling to be given a fair chance to serve their people. But this however, if the suppose remarks still make it to the hearing of people in post election, then there is every possibility to those who are scarcely familiar with such domain, that what had been aired must have some iota of truth to no longer be tagged as rumors.
This article is specifically about the Oyo State political-charmer, Governor Seyi Makinde, who the good people of Oyo had unadulteratedly claimed as the most handsome governor in the federation, with impeccable record thus far since he assumed the office of Governor of Oyo state in 2019 till date.
Governor Seyi Makinde who is a shrewd successful businessman before venturing into politics, has also seem to make his journey being a politician seamless and laudable for the people of Oyo state, and the rest of Nigeria at large. As from my personal research carried out from residents in the city of Ibadan and others, in purpose of this article; residents commend his undaunted resilience of not letting the political position of being a governor bait him into becoming a greedy and selfish person, like other state governors are reported to become, in their immediate assume of their position of authority.
Makinde in 2007, in his first early political trial to be the representative for the Oyo South Senatorial in the red chambers had always proposed nothing more than five basic pillars. These pillars according to him, has he always aforementioned that he would employ in governance if given the fair chance. These pillars of services are; Economy, Education, Healthcare and Security. This, had he continue to uphold in different attempts under different political parities on using his professional acumen as engineer to restructure what he had deem to be deficient. This regardless, the failed attempt of getting into the red chambers, Governor Seyi Makinde continue to prove that he is a man of a single belief and until this present day, has he proven to abide by. Even as he had expand the aforementioned pillar of roadmap in to other sectors for accelerating the development in Oyo State to this day.
MAKINDE’S ACT OF SERVICE SINCE BEING GOVERNOR
One of the maverick act by Governor Makinde that will still be mulled as a total act of leadership till this day is the scrapping of the N3,000 that was being paid in by pupils of all public primary and secondary schools in the state and also promising to donate his salary to pensioners. This a rare display of gesture did he dutiful observed in his first assumption of office in 2019. Something very rare we can find amongst our political elite of this day.
Governor Seyi Makinde who has always believed in true Federalism has never being opposed to any good idea of the interest of the people. As he had historical made the remark of; “ the states deciding what effect and policies that are best for them and the people deciding their minimum wage of their workforce based on their different individual realities. This till date has he continue to make as a sermon as he uphold the believe that states are not created equal, and it is against the principle of fairness to apply a blanket rule to govern every individual state in the federation.
Thus, as promised by Seyi Makinde, In 2020, Oyo State was one of the top 5 states in Nigeria that experienced YoY growth in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). In real terms, the state added over N1 Billion monthly in IGR.
Also by means to cushion the difficulties of transportation and infrastructure, the Oyo State Executive Council led by Governor Seyi Makinde did come up with an innovative financing scheme called the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA) for funding infrastructure projects in Oyo State. This was done to ensures that developmental projects can still be carried out despite limited funds. Under APFA, contractors fund and execute projects and the state refunds the contractors over a fixed period of time.
Governor Seyi Makinde has always had the vison of sustainable development in Oyo state. These over time is it reported on how he had converted the once domestic airport to a commercial airport. Where today, a lot of airlines flew in and out, unlike the previous Adminstration before his, where the airport barely exist.
In size mass, Ibadan is one of the biggest city in Nigeria If not west Africa. The need for good road project and having Bus terminals are recorded to have been duly put in place under the watch of Seyi Makinde. As these is reported to have created jobs for the youth and has brought sanity to the transportation sector.
Over eighty percent of the residents In Oyo- Ibadan, from my research commended how the Governor, has been able to change the notion of Oyo state being that state with the red muddy roof top, to a state with exquisite infrastructure and a very satisfactory cost of living.
Thus, another great impact of the Oyo state Government under Seyi Makinde Is the encouragement of inclusive participation in policy and decision making. As reports have it that, that since he assumed office Governor Seyi Makinde has being keen to ensuring gender balance In all decision making positions. This did Seyi Makinde sign the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill 2021 into law. Making the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion have a rapid Response Team established to tackle violence against women.
These and many other sustainable development project has been recorded in Oyo state to have been put in place under the governance of Seyi Makinde.
MAKINDE AND G5 ROLE IN THE 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
During the 2022/2023 Presidential General election it was speculated that Governor Seyi Makinde with four other aggrieved governors in the Peoples Democratic Party known as the G5 were all working against their Party candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Ifeanyi Okowa.
These which was alleged as at then that Governor Seyi Makinde had been brainwashed by the purported leader of G5, former River state Governor, Nyesom Wike, and the fear in the air that Seyi Makinde by his single involvement of being partisan of G5 may have crashed his sanguine political image that everyone so ceremoniously sing about in Oyo state. This also, was alleged that it threatens the fate of the people of Oyo state if they would still want to vote for him for a return in the 2023 gubernatorial race.
However from the opinions gathered in my research of this writing; on the contrary, a number of others had felt no threat or change of likeness against his affiliation with the aggrieved governors, known as G5. As a matter of fact, some narrated how the Governor has already done so well, even more than they had expected, in the general interest of the Oyo people. And if there had been a sole reason why their Governor Seyi was against his own party candidate, then they wish that whatsoever good fruit of his labour would also be in the benefit and favour of the state.
This In post election times, has Governor Seyi Makinde provided insight into his deliberations with his people in the light of the controversy trailing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign.
He reiterated that the agitation of the G5 did not place the individual careers of the governors as a major consideration.
“We thought we were going to fight for what is right, what is just for this country and for our party. We said, ‘We prefer to see a PDP that will obey its own constitution’ because rotation and zoning of government and party offices is there; it’s part of PDP’s constitution,” he said.
“None of us ever thought, ‘We’re playing a survival game.’ No. We were just basically saying, ‘Do what is right. Do what is just. Have inclusivity as something that is central in our party and in our country and don’t do anything that can threaten the unity of this country.’ There’s no regret.” This he said.
This he further stated that he being part of G5 was not of the people but of his own choice and vote. According to him, the reality is that people will make their choices nevertheless. And this they did at the end of the general election, even as he encourages everyone to now push in a direction where everyone will foster a united Nigeria, an inclusive Nigeria.
From all indications it is clear to admit that Governor Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde still remains one of Nigerians political amazons that we should look out for in the coming aforementioned years. As he is still very much seem to have the political charm to be in the big league of the federation.
