Governor Seyi Makinde delivered a speech during a Thanksgiving Service he attended at Victory International Church, Ibadan, today, Sunday, 11th of January, 2026.
In the course of his speech, he made several comments but the one which caught my attention the most is where he said, though, his tenure will end by 29th of May, 2027, but ‘ Omi Tuntun’ 3.0 will continue in Oyo state.
I watched the video and when I saw him made that comment, I remember that I wrote a piece about a couple of weeks ago where I said that the Governor of Oyo state needs rest.
We live in a society where the insanity of a rich man is not readily ascertainable.
If a rich man puts on three garments at the same time, people will say, oh, he is a rich man and that is why he is doing whatever pleases him but in actual facts, the man is insane.
Omi Tuntun’ 3.0? To continue in Oyo state beyond 2027? How?
Is it possible for a man who is trapped inside his burning house to be calling out from the furnace, asking his neighbors to help him ensure that his goats are well tethered?
Will he not be concerned about saving himself alone at that very critical time?
Well, if the Governor of Oyo state was featuring in a Nollywood movie, he acted very well and was perfect in delivering his dialogue.
He deployed his character traits which the former Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike attributed to him when the going between the duo were good.
Wike said that Seyi Makinde is very gentle and unlike him, Seyi would seldomly talk but when he bites, his strikes are always fatal.
When I saw him on the pulpit, gentle looking and soft speaking, I remembered Wike and the fact that Makinde eventually proved him right because he attempted to strike him except that the venom did not work on Wike.
Governor Makinde also said that he would do two road projects at Elebu and BCJ before his tenure ends and I laughed when he said that.
Only the ignorant will take Governor Makinde’s promises seriously.
When he was addressing the Congregation and making those promises, he was aware that his tenure would end by 29th of May, 2027.
He said he made some promises during the campaign periods, I think since 2018 and he said he would ensure that he fulfill them before he leaves office in 2019.
Of course, he would appear to be fulfilling some unfulfilled campaign promises from now on.
The 2027 general election is barely a year away.
He needs to deceive the electorates with something spectacular and embarking on road projects which he knew he would not complete might just be a very good idea.
He did a similar thing in Eruwa in 2023.
He went to Eruwa and flagged off the rehabilitation of the Ido-Eruwa road project.
He told the people of Eruwa at the time that he would complete the project by December of 2023 because he had given the project to two different Contractors, who would handle the project from both the Eruwa and the Ido ends of the road.
Sadly, at the time Governor Makinde was making the promise that the project would be completed by December of 2023, he was practically deceiving the people of Ibarapa East because, in truth, only 12 out of the 48 klm stretch of the road project was awarded to the two Contractors.
Governor Makinde himself admitted to this facts much later, albeit, inadvertently.
Until recently, the project was abandoned by the two Contractors but not surprisingly, the Contractors are back on site now.
We are approaching the 2027 general election and the Governor needs to tell us something new.
For the people of Elebu and BCJ, before you believe Governor Makinde’s promises, ask from the people of Ibarapa East.
Governor Makinde also told the Congregation that he has been able to pay salaries and the 13th month salary of civil servants for almost seven years now.
When he was saying that, he did not tell his listeners who kept clapping for him that he just approved a measure that is tantamount to extorting the same civil servants through the Oyo state Health Insurance Agency, OYSIA.
About a couple of hours before I saw the video, I had sighted an Oyo state Health Insurance Agency memo directed to the Chairman, Water Corporation of Oyo state and titled ” Change in Deduction Model and Expansion of Coverage of Care and Beneficiaries under the Oyo state Health Insurance Scheme”.
According to the memo, the Governor of Oyo state had approved the ” deduction of 7.5 percent of Basic Salary of all civil and public servants to Oyo state Health Insurance Agency as payable premium for the Insurance coverage of a Civil/Public servant, his/her Spouse and four children under the age of 18 effective January 2026 salary and to humbly seek for your corporation’s compliance”.
When I saw the memo, I asked a civil servant to explain the mode of deduction by OYSIA before now and the person told me that monthly deductions before now were just about a thousand Naira or a little bit more.
By Governor Makinde’s recent approval, the goal post has changed.
Civil servants in Oyo state would now have to forfeit as much as 7.5 percent of their Basic Salary to OYSIA on a monthly basis but Governor Makinde forgot to tell his listeners this.
Honestly, it takes someone with a large heart to advocate for the civil servants in Oyo state any time they have issues with Governor Seyi Makinde.
Some days ago, a brother of mine told me that his neighbor, a primary school teacher had read one of my stories and after doing so, he asked my brother to talk to me to leave Governor Makinde alone because, he has been paying their salary regularly.
I told my brother that the fellow is ignorant and selfish.
Interestingly, the same fellow had been asking my brother if I had seen the memo and what my reaction to it would be.
Regardless of the attitude of the civil servants in Oyo state, we must do what is necessary for our society to be better.
Governor Makinde is always quick to say that, oh! I’ve been paying salaries and Pensions as and at when due but he wouldn’t talk about how much he is owing the civil servants in deductions.
He wouldn’t talk about the conditions of service of Oyo state workers at the Broadcasting Corporations of Oyo state, BCOS and the Oyo state Technical University.
He would not say that while he was paying the salaries of workers for the month of December, 2025 and the 13th month salary for the same period, he had also approved an astronomical deductions of their monthly salaries through OYSIA beginning from January, 2026.
Let me now go back to the delusions of Governor Makinde regarding ‘ Omi Tuntun’ 3.0.
Just this morning, I read a report which says that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP faction, perhaps , the faction loyal to Governor Seyi Makinde are seeking alliances for stranded aspirants in Accord, ADC and other platforms.
Just recently, some stakeholders within the ADC in Oyo state raised an alarm that they would not submit their structures to Governor Seyi Makinde who, they alleged to have been making overtures to defect to their party.
This morning also, I read another report which says that Mr. Wale Ajani who was appointed by Governor Seyi Makinde as the Director General of the Oyo state Liaison offices at Lagos and Abuja had resigned from the PDP.
As we speak, the PDP does not have a legally recognized structure at any level across Nigeria.
The Party can not nominate candidates for even a House of Assembly election anywhere in Nigeria.
Everyday, scores of political office holders and prominent members have been exiting the PDP across the Country.
Yet, Governor Seyi Makinde still thinks that he is on course to continue his Government of deceits and financial recklessness through a puppet beyond 2027?
I have said it, those who genuinely love the Governor should look after him.
Perhaps, his obsession with ‘ Water ‘ ( Omi) is beginning to take a toll on him.
Honestly, I don’t seem to get it again. ‘ Omi’ this. ‘ Omi’ that.
I pray he doesn’t wake up one day and begins to talk about ‘ Omi yale ‘.
I think the successive failures recorded by the him in his bid to take over the structures of the PDP and that banger from Fayose are seriously impacting on the Governor.
Sometimes ago, he said he was going to name his successor in January 2026. ( I hope he hasn’t forgotten that promise).
At another time, he said he would merely announce the choice of gubernatorial candidate for his party and the people of Oyo state would decide whether to go with his choice or otherwise.
If he fails to announce his successor this month, perhaps, we will understand him because he doesn’t have a party as we speak.
Now, he said ‘ Omi Tuntun’ will continue beyond 2027!
What are all the people around the Governor doing?
Where is Seye Famojuro? This is the right time for those who claims to love Governor Makinde to rally round him and ensure that he clears his mind and rest.
Depression is seriously beginning to manifest.
A homeless man doesn’t invite people to have dinner with him.
I do not expect Governor Makinde to show his followers that he is in a dilemma politically but I also do not expect him to unnecessarily keep suffering himself by fretting over issues that are clearly now beyond his control.
Ultimately, it is the Oyo state electorates who will decide on who their next Governor would be but I am certain of one fact, Oyo state will never be swayed by a confused mind.
May we all live to see the remainder of ‘ Omi Tuntun’ by May 29, 2027.
On that day on May 29 of 2027, Oyo state will be rid of arrogance, stubbornness, deceits and financial recklessness.
A new Dawn will begin by the Grace of Almighty God and we will join others to sing, ‘ bye-bye to rede rede’.
I hope by that time, Governor Makinde would be able to rest his mind and rid himself of the illusion of ‘ Omi Tuntun’, but wait o, what of the Anti-graft Agencies?
Sola Abegunde.
