Oyo 2027 : A tempest awaits Governor Seyi Makinde

By Sola Abegunde

When I read the story where Governor Seyi Makinde said he would have a say on whoever that will fly the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for Oyo state in 2027, I immediately remembered the proverb one of my Ogas in politics used to illustrate a similar position some years ago.

He had told me that when a father found himself in a state that he needs to tell his own child that he is older than him, then, something must be fundamentally wrong.

I am sure the person in question, who is interestingly a Leader of the PDP in Oyo state presently must have forgotten that particular instance.

It goes without saying it that after God Almighty, a sitting Governor possesses enormous powers to influence his choice of successor, most especially, within his own political party.

It is an unwritten rule that state Governors are considered the Leaders of their political parties in Nigeria and except there is a problem between the Governor and the president, if they are from same political party, the structures of the party in the states are fully in the control of the state Governor.

We had a peculiar circumstance in Oyo state in 2007 when the then president Obasanjo backed the late Adedibu to throw up former Governor Ladoja’s Deputy, late Governor Alao Akala as the PDP gubernatorial candidate against the interest of Ladoja.

However, such situations are not common in the political terrain in Nigeria and the last time I checked, Governor Makinde already took care of a Deputy he considered a threat and he presently have someone who is playing the game according to his wishes and the PDP at the Federal level are in the opposition.

So, what exactly is agitating Governor Makinde’s mind, pushing him to be emphasizing on powers he ought to possess naturally.

When you see the pouch rat in the daytime, be rest assured its life is in danger.( A ki ri ewu losan). ” Ewu is also known in Yoruba as ” okete “.

The pouch rat is a kind of giant rat which is known to move in the dark. So, when you see it in the daytime, it is certainly running from danger.

Is it possible that Governor Makinde is sensing dangers of opposition and divergent views about his intention to name a successor within the Oyo PDP in 2027? I will say yes.

Let us first examine the background of where the statement was made.

Governor Makinde was receiving the reports of a committee he had set up on the review of the civil service in Oyo state.

That was not a political gathering. There was practically nothing on ground on the day to warrant such statement.

However, it is obvious that the Governor must have been having so much worries by the activities of a certain political ally and sponsor of his who has been making bold moves towards 2027.

The said ally is said to have contributed significant resources to the success of the Governor in 2019 and 2023.

Though the individual in question is said not to be a card carrying member of any political party at present, but the overwhelming majority of the crowd that has been flocking to his base are members of the Oyo PDP.

Apart from this, every second term Governor in Nigeria are always in a dilemma of picking a successor from the pool of interested close friends, allies and associates.

Governor Seyi Makinde is in peculiar dilemma for two reasons.

Firstly, his election, both in 2019 and 2023 are far from what you will describe as merit based.

On both occassion, it was a case of what you can call ” aayan ta mi jo, eera ta mi jo…” ( A kind of beyond border politics).

In 2019, he benefitted from a coalition arrangement between several political parties and interests, supervised by former Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.

In 2023, he was compensated with a second term as a result of an unholy alliance with the opposition party.

I say it without equivocation, Governor Makinde never won the seat of the Governor of Oyo state on his own personal merit for once and the facts are there to strongly support the claim.

The second reason why I think the Governor is in a dilemma is his inability to nurture and sustain relationships, his dictatorial tendencies and his warped reward system.

Eng. Rauf Olaniyan was his Deputy for the 2019 gubernatorial election.

I think the choice of Olaniyan must have been a decision based on political, Administrative and financial qualities possessed by the retired civil servant from Oke Ogun.

Sadly and unfortunately, it is reported that Makinde, as Governor, treated his erstwhile Deputy with disdain throughout the harrowing short period of Olaniyan’s stay as Deputy Governor and for no credible reason.

He eventually orchestrated the impeachment of Olaniyan and settled for another Oke Ogun man who, I think suits his expectations perfectly.

I must say that the results of the last general election was a leveller between the two politicians from Oke Ogun.

While Olaniyan yielded no grounds to the PDP in 2023 and delivered all positions to the APC where he currently belongs, Makinde’s current Deputy achieved exactly the opposite. Go and check the results of the 2023 general election if you’re in doubt.

Not only Olaniyan. Senator Sarafa Alli was the gubernatorial candidate of the Zenith Labor Party in 2019.

By all standards, Sarafa towers above Makinde in the field of politics but he had to surrender his ambition for Makinde to thrive in 2019.

It is also on record that Governor Makinde refused to honor the gentleman agreement he had with all the coalition partners, Alli inclusive.

Thankfully, Sarafa Alli is a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria today under the APC.

The mismanagement of the coalition arrangements of 2019 is not the only issue Makinde has to grapple with.

Even those who were in the PDP and who contributed immensely to his success in 2019 and 2023 are not left out of the mistreatment of the Governor.

Governor Makinde is autocratic and totalitarian in his handling of party and Government positions. He, together with an usurper friend of his, or is it brother they say he is, are the all in all.

Oh! The Governor has made a long list of political enemies for himself out of ego and a spirit of ” I know it all”.

Hon. Mrs. Mulikat Adeola Akande, Eng. Femi Jogor, former Minister and daughter of the late SAN, Mrs. Jumoke Akinjide to mention but a few have all become bystanders in a political party they held together before Makinde joined from the SDP.

Oh! Where is Elder Wole Oyelese? Alhaji Razak Gbadegesin and many others?

This are veterans in the field of politics by any standards. In fact, they are assets. Where are they in Makinde’s PDP?

It’s a long time I heard anything about Senator Hosea Agboola!

How can one forget the treatment he meted to former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state?

Until recently, when he started recanting, could it be said that Governor Makinde has been fair to Ladoja?

A lot of party Leaders and members are dissatisfied with the reward system of the Governor.

Some days ago, I wrote about the Governor’s reckless spendings on gifts for unofficial persons like Musicians and Radio Broadcasters.

How many genuine leaders of his party has benefitted anything tangible from his Government?

The Governor has sowed the seeds of animosities in his party.

The seeds have grown and blossom and they are beginning to yield fruits of vengeance.

That is the foundation of the fears of Governor Seyi Makinde that is driving him to remind his children that he is not their age mates.

He knows that there would be rebellion and push backs from those he has spent the last six years tormenting.

His Government is pregnant with dirty deals and ugly secrets.

He will want someone who he considers a lackey enough to keep his mouth shut after seeing the details of what he has been covering while on the seat.

The only person he could perhaps trust for such an assignment is unfortunately not a choice at all.

They call him the ” second Governor” and he perhaps wields more powers than Makinde himself.

Unfortunately for the Governor, the usurper is not one of us. He is from a neighbouring state.

So, where will the Governor find a ” Gbewudani” to fly the ticket of the PDP in 2027 and after one is found, how will he convince his party men to accept the choice?

Those are the worries of the Governor.

Thankfully, he knew his bounds and I must credit him for that.

He has said that his claims are limited to the choice of the candidate for the PDP. So, what is my problem?

I remember, with nostalgic, one of the songs our mothers used to sing in those days when they go for what is called ” ode olobinrin Ile”

” Boo wowo asebe ma jina, Ile yin ni e yaa fi regbe mo o” they used to sing. ( The song was a warning to those women who couldn’t cook well to refrain from cooking on occasions but to rather keep their bad cooking habits within their households).

For as long as Governor Makinde is talking about how to foist his choice of gubernatorial candidate on the PDP, I wish him plenty luck.

Abegunde writes from Eruwa