Opinion: Why Makinde second term bid must be halted, By Kola Amzat
In the last couple of months, the governors of Oyo state and other four states in the South East and South South geo-political zones have been at daggers drawn with the leadership of PDP and the presidential candidate of the party in the forthcoming general elections.
Their grouse: Atiku Abubakar opted for Ifeanyi Okowa as his vice presidential candidate instead of Wike Nyesom, the governor of Rivers State.
They’re also appalled and disgusted with Aminu Tambuwal’s mischievousness in stepping down for Atiku right there at the PDP convention, thereby drawing the curtains on Nyesom Wike’s ambition of emerging as the party presidential candidate, an unwholesome development they aggregated to be a calculated and deliberate design of the power brokers within the party to continually subordinating the interests of the Southern bloc of the country to that of its Northern counterpart.
Besides the fact that they’ve been entangled on this issue for unreasonable length of time, there is also no indication that the confrontation would end soon as the contending parties are not prepared to sheath their swords. This is obviously affecting the wheel of governance in the concerned states.
Of greater concern is Oyo state governor practically relocating to Port Harcourt during his vacation expected to end on September 02 to fight the same cause. There exists no doubt in our minds that when he eventually resumes, he would continue from where he might have stopped during his vacation as the war of words between the contending parties is far from being abated, as it has continued to assume a disturbing dimension.
Meanwhile, the major reason for this write-up is that Governor Makinde has succeeded in offering our dear state to his political bloc as pawn in the chess game of political negotiations and unnecessary squabbles. How on earth the governor could be involving himself in power tussle to ensuring that his group get to the center when he and fighting colleagues are quite aware that their preferred candidate wouldn’t have the slimmest of a chance to emerge as president of the country even if PDP had conceded to him opportunity to be their flag-bearer?
It’s particularly worrisome that the governor has practically abandoned major thrusts that supposed to be fulcrum of governance in the state for mundane, irrelevancies and unnecessary power struggles that would not in any way glorify the state.
For months, federal allocations to federating units have been on the downward trend on accounts of instability in prices in the international markets, coupled with large scale oil bunkering on-going in the deep sea, a development necessitating the country inability to meet the OPEC quota of 1.830 million barrels/day. All states across the federation are making spirited efforts to bridge the gap of shortfall in federal allocations to their states through IGR and other ingenious strategies of generating additional revenues. This makes little or no meaning to the governor as he’s busying pursuing inglorious ambition.
Quite a number of foreign investors from Asia, Europe, Middle East and even, America countries have deep interest in making Nigeria an investment destination on account of her huge population and massive market. Neighboring governors in the South West, South East and even North Central are constantly and continually cultivating, as well as attracting these willing investors into their states. Seyi Makinde bothers less about this.
After more than 3 years in office, we expect his administration to have made about 35 kms Oyo/Ibadan stretch an industrial zone, just like what’s obtained in Lagos/Mowe/Ibafo/Sagamu expressway. The same initiative is also expected in Ibadan/Ife road. Seyi Makinde seems less concern, preferring to engage in struggles for center where easy allocation flows with stability in oil prices, as well as in oil production.
While Governor Makinde has been frolicking with his governor’s friends and counterparts in the South East and South South, the South West governors in recent times are also collaborating on issues bother on economic and industrial, as well as socio-political activities. We could see huge collaboration between Lagos and Ogun states. The same is going on between Ondo and Ekiti state. Oyo is being abandoned. This is what we bargained for with Makinde in the saddle and we all need to come in concert to halt his second term bid.
Under his watch, the pacesetter state came a very distant 33rd in the WAEC recently declared result. It has never happened before in the educational annals of the state! Oyo has never been outside of the 10th bracket. His government pays lip service to the educational development. In any case, PDP don’t have deliberate policy on education unlike what’s obtained in all the APC controlled states. Coupled with this fact is the priority of his government which of course is in Lighting of the states and roads construction, the avenues where siphoning and looting billions of state Treasury is guaranteed.
Consequent upon the governor carefree attitude on the governance in the state, the insecurity in recent times in the state has assumed alarming dimension with hoodlums and urchins operating under the firm control of Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi alias Auxilliary holding sway. They maim, kill members of opposition and constantly leaving on their trail destruction of properties worth several millions of Naira. This is the state of governance of the state under the watch of Governor Makinde.
A couple of weeks ago, this writer visited Agodi government state secretariat. Apart from the fact that the place generally look deserted, the hitherto glorious & bubbling complex has not only lost its serenity, it has lost its beauty and glamour. From the main gate, one could decipher easily and discern that wrong people are presently occupying the seat of government.
A number of buildings within the complex have seen their better days and the government hasn’t deemed it fit to let them have touch of modernity. Some buildings even appear falling off from their foundations. Of course, those building and in their numbers, are unoccupied. This is the seat of government in PDP administration under Seyi Makinde watch!
We all have responsibility to play our individual role in seeing off this government comes 2023. It’s an odious task we must all challenge ourselves to achieve. There is chemistry that goes with leading the state. There is also a dynamics that goes with it. Clearly, the incumbent doesn’t understand it and he won’t because, he’s an outsider. Only a member of progressive are imbued with such quality. So, it’s incumbent on all of us to return the state back into the fold of progressives.
Senator Teslim Folarin is waiting on the wings. He’s been sufficiently prepared for this task. He has the capacity and wherewithal not only to lead the party to victory, but to lead the state, as well as restore her dignity & honor. Let’s repose our trust and confidence in him.
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)
LAGOS-BASED FINANCIAL CONSULTANT,
09077509348
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB, CTP, MBA)
Lagos Based Financial Consultant
09077509348.
