Seyi Makinde reign of horror in Oyo state: Never again!, by Kola Amzat 

As the nation inches to another electoral cycle in 2027, the long-suffering people of Oyo state are intensely in hurry to see the back of Seyi Makinde and everything he represents and he’s aware of this.

The awesome power & authority in the governor’s office has suddenly turned him to an Emperor terrorising everyone in sight.

It’s generally acknowledged that the governor has no regard and modicum of respect even for the office of president.

Recently, he recklessly accused President Bola Tinubu of making spirited efforts to transform the nation democratic process into one party state, a development that has pitched him and our dear state against the federal authority, necessitating the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces to bluntly refuse to see the governor while on a recent visit to the Villa.

After so much entreaty to the president on his behalf by a governor colleague, the president was reported to accept to see him on one condition-that he should ONLY bring the Oyo state matters, and not personal issues.

That’s the extent of ridicule, scorn and embarrassment the governor has subjected himself!

While all his PDP governors colleagues have seen the light, defected to the ruling party on account of confusion in the party, and essentially on diverse reforms been executed in the economy and oil sector, which are already yielding fruitful results, he is the only PDP governor who is pretending that all is well with the party even though, he’s been technically edged out of the party by Nyesom Wike led faction of the party, that has recently been recognised by court of competent jurisdiction, as well as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)    

It’s the same governor who arrogantly declared that he’s already OVERQUALIFIED to lead Nigeria, having stumbled on $1million wealth while he was under 30 and having been Oyo state governor in the last six and half years.

Of course, this infantile and immature declaration has made him a subject of scorn and ridicule by the key figures in the political class, some of whom have been governors, senators, ministers in their individual capacity and, are even bidding to be senate president or vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.     

These past few days, there have been news in the public domains that Seyi Makinde is on the brink of offering ₦10 billion to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to provide him platform as vice presidential candidate on a joint ticket with Turakin Adamawa ahead of 2027 general elections.

This was the same governor who declared that he’s OVERQUALIFIED to lead Nigeria, now running helter skelter now pleading to be accommodated in a fringe party, being blown left and right by political vicissitudes, without any notable identified root in all the 37 federating units in the country, including, Adamawa state, the adopted home of the party’s major financier and pilot.    

It’s also instructive to mention that the governor has little or no regard for the Judiciary.  

While two judgments separately were pronounced by Abuja Federal High Courts, halting the PDP Convention in Ibadan-one in favour of Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa state who was denied of vying for the chairmanship of the party at the convention, and another by Wike led faction of the party, Seyi Makinde in his usual governance style since he assumed office, squandered several billions of Oyo State resources on a convention he’s aware ab-initio that it would be illegal, null and void, of which all resolutions and communiques therefrom, would be inconsequential.

And that’s the position of that ill-fated convention, as I put up this Piece.       

Presently in the political sphere, key political figures, including governors and ministers keep Seyi Makinde at arm’s length.

He technically lost his post as a Deputy Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, on account of total disrespect to federal authority.

He is already estranged with members of G5 formed to halt Atiku’s and PDP bid for presidency in the year 2023 on account of INORDINATE AMBITION.

No South West governor colleagues would be comfortable in identifying with Seyi Makinde again. They dare not!

PDP is presently in complete DISARRAY in Oyo state. This is the party that provided him a platform to ascend to the governor’s office. Even in 13 LGAs in Ibadan, the governor has become an ANATHEMA.

If he’s in doubt, let him bid for another office-Senatorial seat or even lower office if the Ibadans would not show him their true colour.

He lost his political benefactor, Hosea Agboola in Oke Ogun and Luqman Oyebisi Ilaka in Oyo, as well as several political stalwarts that he rode on their back to power.        

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It’s not in doubt that the governor gives little or no respect to the traditional institution in the state. He rides roughshod over all our traditional rulers, including foremost monarch-Alaafin of Oyo that the Yorubas both at home and in Diaspora celebrate with joy and delight.

He has chosen to continually attack history, customs, traditions and norms, absolutely without justifications.

In his height of arrogance, he’s refused to acknowledge that history has never been kind to those who chose to distort it.

In his avowed determination to whittle down Alaafin throne and demean the chequered and rich history of Oyo kingdom, Seyi Makinde proceeded to install Alago-Oja of Ago Oja, and 13 other Chiefs as crowned-wearing Obas, in contrary to the judgement of Supreme Court.

Who commits such sacrilege and abomination and goes scot free?

For emphasis, the above development culminated in the same governor’s action a couple of weeks ago when he manipulated the state house of assembly to effect the amendment of the Traditional Rulers & Chiefs Act that recognises Alaafin as permanent chairman of Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs to rotational chairmanship.  

Of course, he has made every move to frustrate and demean the newly crowned, His Imperial Majesty, Alaafin Akeem Abimbola Owoade. The only thing he’s not attempt is to dethrone the unperturbed, courageous, resilient, discerning and tactful monarch.

Meanwhile, we cross our fingers and feet waiting for other surprises the governor could spring in the months ahead, before he vacates office.   

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)

Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,

09077509348.