‘Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, on Monday did what many thought he could not do. Hours after being inaugurated for a fresh term of four terms, he sacked Mukaila Lamidi, known as Auxilliary, who headed the disciplinary committee of the Park Management System, PMS, in the state.
Before going for his inauguration, Makinde did not have in mind he was going to do away with Auxilliary. Barely had the governor returned to his Ikolaba private residence, trouble started with Auxilliary and his PMS boys allegedly beating members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, who had also followed the governor from the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, venue of the inauguration to his house, a source who is in the known of development hinted OYOINSIGHT.COM.
Though a statement by Segun Ogunwuyi, who has just been reappointed Chief of Staff to the governor, didn’t say Auxilliary’s offense, this newspaper learnt that Makinde had been managing his excesses for long.
“I can tell you for a fact that the governor hasn’t been happy with the conduct of Auxilliary. He was tolerating him, thinking that with time, and considering his age, that he would change. People come to complain everyday.
“It didn’t start today. I can tell you that it was a hard decision the governor had to make. He did not plan to sack him and his PMS guys. He cannot tolerate it again. It was in the best interest of the state.
”Before and in the build-up to the election, the governor, believing that to bring peace in the state, there was a need to bring all warring factions in the transport unions together, detailed his ally, Otunba Seye Famojuro, to reconcile them. Auxilliary became angry with the move. Not bothered, Otunba Seye called him and told him why they needed to work together in the interest of the state but adamant Auxilliary won’t agree. They were managing it until this morning when he and his boys started beating everyone believed to be members of the NURTW. The governor had to direct the new chief of staff to go and issue statement sacking them. Governor did that in the interest of the state and peace. He won’t tolerate such nonsense any longer. If he proves stubborn, he knows where he is going,” a top member of the governor’s inner caucus told OYOINSIGHT.COM, craving anonymity.
Asked if the governor can reconsider his decision on Auxilliary, the source added that “the chances are slim. If at all, it will now be a rainbow arrangement. All stakeholders will be involved and no longer a one-man show.”
This newspaper recalls that despite protest from well-meaning indigenes of the state, Makinde had, after banning the activities of the NURTW in the state in 2019, appointed Auxiliary to head the PMS.
Auxilliary, on several occasions, had had clashes with members of the NURTW, a union he once led, with casualties recorded. He once threatened Teslim Folarin, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the last governorship election in the state.
