For some time now, I have been struggling to decide on which topic to write about Governor Seyi Makinde.
A lot of issues were competing for my attention.
The Governor’s meeting with a section of the Circular Road Corridor residents at Ido, the unfortunate time and resources consuming misadventures of Governor Makinde over the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and sundry issues were tempting topics.
I have been doing some investigation regarding the road projects been embarked upon by Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibarapa East Local Government with a view to finding out the truth about the actual length of the road that is being done against the incongruous descriptions of projects contained in the Oyo state Government approval of funds for certain road projects in Eruwa and Lanlate.
That was also inviting my attention.
You will recall that I raised issues about the description of a particular road project as is contained in the Government approval but I got no response from the Government of Oyo state.
Flowing from my observations regarding the incongruous manner with which the project was described, I also raised issues about the cost attached to the road projects in Eruwa but the Government has also been silent.
I was tempted to do another write up on this issue but I decided to maintain restraints because, the documents containing the approval is already public knowledge and after all has been said and done, we will have ample time to deal with those issues.
Now, you will also recollect that I wrote about ‘ Badiru and Sangolade’ a couple of weeks ago.
I explained how I was blessed with the knowledge about that Yoruba wise saying on a particular Radio program anchored by one of our ever brilliant Seniors and Egbon.
‘ kin lo pa Sangolade ati Badiru po ‘? ( What is it between Sangolade and Badiru?).
I was almost tempted to title this piece ‘ Sangolade and Badiru ‘ (2) but the wide range of issues I intend to weave around the topic prevented me.
Before I deal with the main issue, let me deal with what I consider the lesser of the issues that I want us to consider.
I was greatly amused to read that Governor Makinde said he would be sending Leaders of Okada riders and the Park Management System, PMS to Rwanda as part of what the Governor called ‘ .. restructuring of the transportation sector, with a view to leaving sustainable legacy ‘!
According to Governor Makinde, the illegally imposed Leaders of the transportation sector will ‘.. gain insights into how to better manage the transportation system and make life more comfortable for residents of the state’!
Before I proceed, I read the story from top to bottom and I did not see a sentence where Governor Makinde told those listening to him, exactly what the Rwandan model of transportation is and how the said model is making life more comfortable for Rwandans.
It was just another empty statement.
The type of ‘ we will be exporting maize to Botswana ‘.
Secondly, he did not tell us if in Rwanda, the issues of Parks and Garages are actually the responsibilities of the Rwandan Government, States or Local Governments.
In Nigeria, the management of Parks and Garages are actually the responsibilities of the Local Governments.
With due respect to Governor Seyi Makinde, his interventions in that sector is not only needles, it is illegal to the extent that he has been making illegal withdrawals from Local Governments funds to build Garages or is it Bus terminals that they are calling it.
For all intents and purposes, he is just a Busy Body.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan recently delivered a judgement declaring Governor Seyi Makinde’s act of suspending the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, as illegal.
The PMS is an illegal arrangements.
The judgment of the Court of Appeal is still subsisting, yet, Governor Makinde will go ahead, disobeying the judgment of the Court by sending individuals without locus on a trip to Rwanda.
The useless trip to Rwanda will definitely be on public funds.
When I read the story, I immediately remembered reading a piece , commending Governor Makinde by a respected former Ambassador.
I felt like, sometimes, Governor Makinde should not be blamed.
When you have a society where people who should know better have deliberately chosen to celebrate mediocrity, how will things get better?
We have all chosen to hide behind the statement, ‘ I’m entitled to my opinion ‘.
How on earth could a trip to Rwanda by some selected transport workers make life more comfortable for the residents of Oyo state?
Some weeks ago, Leaders and members of the same PMS formed half of the crowd that congregated at the Adamasingba Sports Stadium for the factional PDP National Convention.
Some days ago, they were also alleged to have invaded Osun state to act as Delegates during the Osun PDP Governorship Primary.
Perhaps, they were also on duty to make life more comfortable for the residents of Oyo state on those occasions.
In Governor Makinde’s Government, transport union Leaders and all manner of people with questionable characters are critical Stakeholders.
No one would say that the Governor shouldn’t send his trusted comrades to Rwanda or wherever he chooses to send them but there would definitely be consequences at the appropriate time.
In Oyo state now, appointment as a Leader of the PMS is more rewarding than being appointed as a Commissioner.
In the fullness of time, the atrocities that is being perpetuated through the PMS shall be exposed for all to see.
Let me now go to the main issue.
Any time I heard Governor Makinde talking about godfatherism and the fact that he doesn’t have a godfather in politics, I used to say that only a fool will believe that story.
I have dealt with this issue many times and I won’t repeat myself here.
I will only approach the issue from another angle.
Even though, the Governor likes to talk about him not having a godfather, he hasn’t talked about whether he likes to be a godfather to others or not because, everything around him shows that he always wants to be in control.
Godfatherism is a two way process.
Anywhere you have the godfather, there must exist a godson.
Governor Makinde would not bow to a godfather, according to him but is he not working towards becoming a godfather on many fronts?
Why is Governor Seyi Makinde committing so much resources to gain control of the PDP?
Why did he chose to part ways with Wike and other members of the G-5?
What is his interest in Osun state to the extent that he allegedly dispatched PMS boys to act as Delegates during the Governorship Primary election?
I think I have the answers to the latter question.
Very recently, the name of Governor Seyi Makinde’s friend or is it his brother, because, it is extremely difficult to determine exactly what Seye Famojuro is to the Governor, whatever you will call him, Seye Famojuro’s name has kept creeping up as perhaps, the likely Governorship candidate of the PDP in Osun state.
It was alleged that the fellow who was supposedly announced as the winner of the Primary election is just a place holder who is holding the forte for Seye Famojuro.
You will wonder why Seye will not show his face and take the ticket for himself.
In his shoes, I won’t also show my face for now.
Inside of both Seyi Makinde and Seye Famojuro, they know that the faction of the PDP they are holding on to is a dead Baby that is yet to decay.
Since its yet to decay, it won’t smell.
They would rather hide their faces and keep fighting, what for me, is a lost battle to revive the PDP.
However, I don’t want to digress from the main issue.
We will discuss the fate of the PDP at another time.
Does Governor Makinde enjoy being a godfather?
Let us go back to Seye and Seyi.
A few days ago, I saw the video of a Radio presenter who was praising Seye Famojuro to the highest heavens.
Unknown to the young man, he did the fellow more harm than good while attempting to sing his praises.
It was a Yoruba Radio program titled ‘ AYEDUN’.
First, he referred to Seye Famojuro as Governor Makinde’s ‘ abesinkawo’.
Infact, I laughed heartily when I listened to the above appellation.
If I’m not wrong, an ‘ abesinkawo’ is something like a servant. ( Eru).
Seye Famojuro doesn’t appear like a servant of Governor Makinde.
Infact, he appears to be a co-driver of the affairs of state and the Radio presenter himself will go on to allude to that view when he said, ‘ .. awon eeyan ma nso pe, Gomina ni ki o se, ma se Seye, tori, ti o ba se Gomina, Seye ni o ba e bebe, sugbon ti o ba se Seye, hmmmm…’!
What the above means is that, it is better to offend the Governor rather than offending Seye Famojuro because if you offend the Governor, Seye Famojuro will intercede but if you offend Seye Famojuro, who will intercede for you?
I have heard something similar to the above before now.
Auxiliary, in many of his interviews before his incarceration said something similar.
Are both implying that Seye Famojuro is a tin-god that even the Governor could not appease and if that is the case, should we still be searching for the godfather?
The Radio presenter went further to say that some people have been alleging that Seye Famojuro assisted Governor Makinde to carry some sacrifice (ebo) and that is why he appears to have a leverage over the Governor.
He said he doesn’t believe that the relationship between Governor Makinde and Seye Famojuro is founded in any occultic arrangements and felt that Seye is just reaping the fruits of his loyalty to Governor Makinde.
If the Radio presenter is right, then, that loyalty in question must carry some weight.
I also read another story this morning on an online platform where the writer, one Moyosoreoluwa Olamilekan Eldreez referred to Seye Famojuro as ‘ the silent force behind Oyo’s success ‘ and claimed that Seye is eyeing Osun in 2026.
According to the writer of the piece, Seye Famojuro is been ‘ strongly considered by party stakeholders and supporters to contest the Osun state Governorship election ‘.
A pattern is been built.
Governor Makinde and the ‘ abesinkawo’ are eyeing Osun in 2026.
Let us assume that the mathematics work out, so, Seye will become Governor of Osun state and Seyi Makinde will become what? Seye’s ‘ abesinkawo’ or what?
I remember a song that our mothers used to sing when we were very young.
Whenever anyone wanted to introduce an idea or a way of life that is strange to their system, they always sing the song. ( Boo woowo asebe ma jina, nile yin ni e yaa firegbe mo o). It literally translate to a caution for someone who is not a good cook in his home but is trying to cook for a festival.
Let us see if the people of Osun state will welcome those who have been cooking some tasteless dishes in Oyo for some years now.
I am sure they will be familiar with that song and will sing if for Governor Makinde and his ‘ abesinkawo’ at the appropriate time.
It is unfortunate that Oyo state was made to suffer indignity and insults for years under Governor Seyi Makinde.
In the History of Oyo state, I have never seen or heard of a non state actor who is as active as Seye Famojuro is active in Makinde’s Government.
The fellow is everywhere and even, supposedly elected Local Government Chairmen refer to him as ‘ Oga’, ( Boss) on Radio .
Thankfully, we will be rid of that unfortunate situation in 2027, God willing.
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Sadly, those who are in the habits of praising Governor Seyi Makinde to the high heavens will pretend not to see the nuisance that a non state actor is constituting in the Government.
Would you blame them?
What money can not do these days is not that much.
The good thing is, nothing last forever.
Where are the powerful men of yesterday?
I will love to round up this piece with yet another song we used to hear our mothers sing many years ago.
Whenever they saw some people doing dirty stuffs in the dark, they would warn them by singing the song.
It was a song that carried warning. (Eekuru a ta lau, nile onisebe, gbogbo ohun e fi aso bo, yoo yo).
There is no way you can fry pepper and the aroma will not attract outsiders.
Sola Abegunde.
