I don’t know why it is difficult for Governor Seyi Makinde to just admit that he lied to the electorates of Oyo state when he promised to export Oyo maize to Botswana in 2019.
If he had simply admitted that he didn’t have sufficient data and information about the deal when he made the promise in 2019, no one would be talking about it today, but Governor Makinde’s ego wouldn’t allow him to admit his errors and move on.
I have seen the repeated defense of his failed promise of 2019 and since they have decided to repeat their earlier position, I think it is pertinent that I also repeat my response to their weak defense.
You will recollect that in response to a piece I wrote earlier this year, Governor Seyi Makinde, through his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, had raised the same points he is repeating now, in defense of the failed Botswana Maize deal.
I am surprised that Governor Makinde didn’t weigh the consequences of his present position against the reality of the promises he made about the exportation of maize to Botswana in 2019.
For the sake of emphasis, let me quote the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Seyi Makinde. He said, ” Governor Makinde has consistently maintained that agriculture must be approached with the discipline and precision of a modern economic enterprise. Every major decision of his administration, including the recalibration of the Botswana Maize initiative, has been guided by data, scientific analysis, logic and the long term economic interest of the people of Oyo state.”
” During his first term, the administration explored a bileteral maize export arrangement with the Government of Botswana. The proposal held genuine promise, offering prospects for expanded cultivation, guaranteed off take and foreign exchange earnings for farmers. However, comprehensive feasibility studies conducted by the Oyo state Agribusiness Development Agency revealed that Oyo state did not possess a strong comparative advantage in maize production at the scale and price required for international export. In light of these findings, Governor Makinde made a prudent and responsible decision to redirect the state’s efforts toward value chains that offer greater viability and long term profitability “.
If you examine the above quoted paragraphs critically, the present position confirms the fact that Governor Seyi Makinde made the promise of exporting maize to Botswana in 2019 in the absence of adequate planning, logic, scientific analysis and accurate data.
In other words, as a Gubernatorial candidate, seeking for votes, he deliberately deceived prospective voters with a policy he had insufficient knowledge and data about its workability.
What Governor Seyi Makinde did, could be likened to the case of someone, who, without professional competence and know how, recommended a drug to a patient and when the drug began to react negatively, the irresponsible individual said, oh, I recommended the drug without basic knowledge about how it should be administered.
A lot of farmers believed Engr. Seyi Makinde in 2019 when he was talking big about the Botswana Maize deal. How unfortunate to now discover he was actually making those big promises in the absence of accurate data, logic and scientific analysis.
According to the statement by Sulaimon Olanrewaju, it was the Oyo state Agribusiness Development Agency that eventually informed Governor Seyi Makinde that his empty promises could not hold water after he had deceived voters to vote for him based on an empty promise and I think our people should really look at whatever promises Adekambi is presently making.
Who knows whether he has been following the same patterns!
I am surprised that Governor Makinde could still be boasting that the major decisions of his administration, including the recalibration of the Botswana maize initiative have been guided by data.
What is the meaning of that? When did data come into play in this messy situation? Was it at the time he was making the empty promise of exporting maize to Botswana in 2019 or after he was advised against it by the Oyo state Agribusiness Development Agency some years after, according to Olanrewaju?
I also want Governor Makinde to make clarifications on the nature of the ” bilateral maize export arrangement with the Government of Botswana”, refered to in the press release by Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
When did that happen? Where are the documents to confirm if that statement is actually true? How could that have happened and the public is just getting to know about it now?
I also wish to challenge the Oyo state Agribusiness Development Agency to explain the reasons behind its conclusion that Oyo state did not possess a strong comparative advantage in maize production at the scale and price required for international export.
I can’t believe my ears. Is it that we don’t have the required land mass for planting maize in a large scale or the climate is not favorable for production of maize in required quantity?
What specific comparative advantage is Oyo state lacking in the the production of maize on a large scale?
I was shocked to see that Governor Makinde is still trying to link this particular failure to the Federal Government!
According to the statement by Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the decision of the Federal Government to approve large scale maize importation into the country significantly affected local farmers, depressed market prices and altered the economics of domestic maize production. I completely disagree with this notion. I am a farmer and I know that for a long time now, the price of maize has been on a steady increase.
Moreover, the question is, what could have prompted the Federal Government to approve the importation of maize to the Nigerian market? Is it not because we are not producing enough for local consumption and I think Governor Seyi Makinde should be ashamed to point to that as an excuse.
We have enough land suitable for planting maize in Oyo. How did we, as a state, leverage on that comparative advantage?
The Tractors purchased by the previous Administrations have been sold under the watch of the Governor and no replacements were provided.
As I write this piece, the Governor is at loggerheads with the people of Ogbomoso and Saki over the plan by the Governor to hand over the Farm Settlements in both Communities to Estate Developers.
The Eruwa Farm Settlement have been rendered useless for about two years now due to the displacement of the local farmers from the place.
As a Government, we are not growing maize. Yet, we are encroaching on every available land suitable for growing maize and handing them over to Estate Developers.
So, how are we ever going to have the comparative advantage to grow maize for exportation?
We have land, but we prefer to sell them to Estate Developers. So, who is to be blamed for our inability to grow maize in sufficient quantity?
On this issue of pseudo Botswana Maize deal, let it be said that Governor Seyi Makinde successfully deceived the electorates of Oyo state.
Thankfully, we survived, but, we now know that each time they make promises, they are not worthy of being trusted.
We now know what Omi Tuntun 3.0 portends. Fake promises, half-truths and outright lies.
Sola Abegunde.
