These past few days, Oyo state governor-Seyi Makinde has seized the airwaves, pouring vituperation at key figures in the political sphere in a move reminiscent of a “witch” already prepared to exit to the world beyond, with determination to empty everything in her bowel.
The list of his victims includes Barr Nyesom Wike, a former governor of Rivers state and incumbent Minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as Bayo Adelabu, the sitting Minister of Power.
In his height of insolence and insubordination, he equally didn’t spare the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, (GCFR).
He lambasted Nyesom Wike who he accused of “holding down” PDP for the president, and emphasised to the former governor that at 29, he’s already in control of $1 million…personal fortunes, before Wike ever commenced his career as practising Lawyer and even, struggling to becoming Chairman of a Local Government Council in Rivers state.
More importantly, he affirmed without equivocation that he’s “overqualified” to lead Nigeria as president, having been an Engineer in Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Shell, a declaration that exposed his myopic sense of reasoning and little-mind.
The pertinent question remains: Could any individual even, at whatever level of accomplishments, qualify to lead his country?
Even Donald Trump, widely acknowledged to be one of the wealthiest in the world, couldn’t resist the allure of the US presidency. After losing his re-election bid against Joe Biden, he deployed all resources within his armory to stage a comeback to White House, commencing his second term tenure in January, 2025.
The globally acclaimed Nelson Mandela derived joy and pleasure to be the president of his country…South Africa, after the Apartheid government succumbed to international pressure to release him from prison.
Makinde should enquire from Atiku Abubakar, despite his stupendous wealth and level he’s attained politically, why he has refused to back out in his bid to lead Nigeria despite his outright rejection by electorates in the last six (6) electoral cycles.
Without a shadow of doubt, Oyo state governor goofed big time!
A career as a young Engineer in Exxon Mobil, Shell and Chevron, as well as being a governor of a state don’t necessarily prepare someone for the presidency of a very diverse, cumbersome and difficult country as Nigeria.
Being Nigeria president is simply the grace of God, act of providence, as well as combination of diverse factors: maturity, keen mind, political know-how, building political relationship across party divides, wisdom and perseverance, none of which Seyi Makinde possesses.
Nigerians would vividly recall that G5 group led by Wike Nyesom came into being essentially to protest the PDP leadership hierarchy’s refusal to concede the party’s presidential primary ticket to a Southern candidate, a move that was considered a slap on the faces of all southerners, more so with the expected completion of 8 years tenure of late president, Muhammud Buhari and not the falsehood Seyi Makinde was fabricating to hoodwink Nigerian populace to believe.
Nigerians must enquire from him which other justification for initiating G5 if not for the purpose of halting Atiku presidency?
On his puerile and incoherent allegation that his support for the president during the 2023 election didn’t produce the outcome he had hoped for and that the president is not resetting the nation by assembling competent Nigerians together to address the nation’s challenges, the governor should come out clean by singling out, who of the cabinet ministers he’s better than, instead of whipping sentiments and unnecessarily being mischievous.
Yes, there could be one or two ministers who might not particularly be operating at the desired level, does this deserve a sweeping condemnation?
The governor has alleged that the president and the ruling party are working in concert to forge a one-party state and that, according to him, the development is a threat to democracy.
Truth must be told and in clear terms: there is no other political leader presently constituting a threat to democratic process other than Seyi Makinde.
Nigerians recall that despite the far-reaching advocacy and public hearings embarked upon across the country by the ruling party to ensure Local Government Autonomy, Oyo state governor was a major force against the laudable move, spiritedly mobilising his PDP governors’ colleagues, not until federal government approach Apex Court and got a deserved judgement to implement the Autonomy.
Even with the Supreme Court judgement, the governor has bluntly refused to comply, opting to swindle the Local Government Authority(s) from their constitutionally allowed allocations from the FAAC account.
For emphasis, it’s only in Oyo state where governor unscrupulously and maliciously combine the roles & responsibilities of local council authorities with his executive functions at Agodi governor’s office, by swindling them their allocations with a pretence to tar roads in their domains, as well as haphazard implementation of other developmental programs for LGA.
Anti-corruption agencies of the government … .EFCC and ICPC must be ready to move swiftly and diligently with the aim of discharging their constitutional roles in this regard, after the expiration of Seyi Makinde tenure in 2027.
In Oyo state, the governor has over the years diligently frustrated the spirited efforts of federal government to dutifully implement the tenets and ethos of federalism, as well as hinder local government authorities from directly executing developmental projects-educational, medical, roads capable of turning the tide in each local councils, as well as taking government closer to people.
This is the major reason why developmental efforts in all spheres skew only in favour of Ibadanland.
It’s also apparent that the governor is not politically savvy and discerning, particularly with his declaration that he would not support the president in his second term bid.
He is not aware that he’s already swimming against the tide.
Maybe, he is oblivious of the fact that political carpet has been removed off his legs even right there in Oyo state! Is he aware that he’s run PDP aground in the state? If he’s in doubt, let him bid for senatorial ticket during the forthcoming elections!
With all intents and purposes, this president doesn’t need his support in the state to coast to landslide victory.
Except for him, and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, all other PDP governors have defected to the ruling party, on account of non-discriminatory developmental forays of the president, all across the nation.
The present political reality is that the president has become a powerhouse in South-West, South-South, South-East and North-Central zones, with imminent resounding victory, a development that would be unprecedented in the annals of the country.
The ex-Lagos state governor is also a candidate to beat in the North West geopolitical zone where Emirs, leaders of thoughts, political leaders across party divides, youths and market women have continually been pledging their maximum and unalloyed support.
Even in the North East zone comprising Bornu, Yobe, Gombe, Taraba, the president stands tall of all candidates expected to bid for the topmost office in the land in 2027.
So, what becomes of the threat of Seyi Makinde in all these arrangements?
Nigerians, particularly long-suffering people of Oyo state are indeed waiting patiently to see what becomes of the governor after his tenure of 8 years in the state.
We cross our fingers and toes!
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)
Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,
