When a leader is introverted and reclusive, he is likely to be doubted and underrated. For instance, many outspoken and gregarious politicians tend to assume such a personality would be a pushover. “This easy-going, calm, and soft-spoken guy won’t be a problem for us”, they sometimes contorted in their inner circles. Until they encounter another side that takes their breath away. The guy they assumed is cool and collected, once in power therefore becomes someone else. He is brutal in the way he deals with his foes and compassionate in the way he tends to his own. Never underestimate the power of a quiet man.
Perhaps, this was the scenario before the 2019 election when prominent opposition figures in the state rallied around Engineer Seyi Makinde. It wasn’t as if they were united around a dignifying course. A common enemy in the form of APC made their marriage of inconvenience possible. They were strange bird fellows who had similar interests in the treasury of the state. Neither bounded by similar ideology nor driven to impact the people, many of those active players knew supporting Makinde at that time wasn’t for the love of the people. Unfortunately, instead of taking a clue in the way Makinde snatched the gubernatorial ticket through the backdoor, most opposition figures remained fixated on the political booties. Like many quiet and easygoing but quietly clever and smart politicians, Governor Makinde dealt with those who underrated him most unconventionally. He gave them a taste of power but axed them afterward. For that carefully orchestrated bloodless coup, many declared him Lord of the tricks. Of course, he has a version of what happened at that time but to the public, here’s a Governor who will not allow others to hijack the pact he had with the people. Verbally and publicly, he mowed those that claimed to be his godfathers. For that, he grew in fame and popularity. In essence, Governor Makinde’s mastery of politics manifested profoundly after he won his re-election early this year.
His landslide victory shut his doubter’s mouth. To win an election where you still have dissenters in your party is incredible. Makinde knew some didn’t like his leadership style, of course, he reached out to some but was clever to exploit the discord in the camps of his opponents. Again, when he turned against Mukaila Lamidi aka Auxiliary, he was widely acclaimed to be the Lord of power play. The operation that uprooted Auxiliary from the metropolis of Ibadan was quite interesting. Many see that moment as the first time Governor Makinde would exercise real executive power. None of the aforementioned political puzzles cost the Governor anything significant. His clash with politicians was seen as political. Not many pity politicians when they fight. In the case of the Auxiliary, the public perception was simple: two love birds chasing different interests. But one issue that has and is still stretching Governor Makinde’s knowledge of politics and politicking intricacies and tussles around royal stools across the state.
While some have been filled, the rest are not. So far, Governor Makinde’s handling of the issues is turning the public against him. And the rumors that he’s hell-bent on forcing his own are gaining traction. In Ogbomoso, an Oyo State High Court sitting has nullified the selection and installation of Oba Ghandi Olaoye as the new Soun of Ogbomoso. Recall Governor Makinde has always expressed fear at the ways courts have removed Kings in the state. He often cites the example of Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adebayo-Adegbola who was dethroned by the Supreme Court after 21 years as one of the reasons for the delay in the selection and installation of prominent monarchies in the state.
In Iseyin and Ogbomoso, new kings have emerged but in Oyo, the situation has pitched the Governor against Kingmakers. “We sent the name of the Alaafin-elect to the Governor last year October for confirmation”, High Chief Yusuf Akinade, the Bashorun of Oyo told journalists in an explosive interview that has rattled the government. The head of Oyo Kingmakers said they’ve selected Prince Lukman Gbadegesin as the substantive Alaafin but wonder why the Governor hasn’t approved the selection. To counter Governor Makinde’s move, Oyo Mesi had to drag the Governor to the court praying among other things to restrain the Governor or his agents from aborting the process for the selection/appointment of the candidate for filling the stool of Alaafin of Oyo duly conducted by the Kingmakers”.
In addition, the Kingmakers also prayed the court to restrain Makinde and his agents from nullifying the choice of Gbadegesin and approving or recognizing any other candidate” as the next Alaafin “after a duly conducted process for the filling of the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo in accordance with the native law, custom and chieftaincy declaration of Alaafin of Oyo chieftaincy”. In Ogbomoso, Governor Makinde’s fear of having the court dethrone any King he installs has come to reality. It is why the Governor has deliberately delayed the process of selection and installation. But now, that delay is a waste of time. That selection of the new Soun would be tried in court in the first place is a slap in the wrist of the Governor’s oft-touted strict adherence to the rule of law and due process. In Oyo, it’s interesting and baffling that Kingmakers would drag the Governor to the Court over selection process.
Recall Governor Makinde once proclaimed that the stool of Alaafin of Oyo is not for sale and that those who have collected money to support a candidate will be guests of the EFCC. Don’t also forget some of the Chiefs were indeed invited for questioning by the anti-graft agency. That the selection process that led to the Soun of Ogbomoso could be quashed by the court must have spurred the Oyo Mesi to explore the power of judiciary as well. Unfortunately, for a Governor who has disrespected various court judgments notable among which was the impasse between him and ALGON, both Oyo and Ogbomoso should rather be cautious and vigilant.
Politicians don’t care what gets destroyed to achieve their aims. And Governor Makinde is no exception.
OYO101 is Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion about issues affecting Oyo state and is published every Saturday. He can be reached via @muftaugbade on X, muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com and 09065176850.
