For a governor who has consistently shunned populism for pragmatism, it must have cost Governor Seyi Makinde so much hard work to score so highly on the card of overwhelming majority of Oyo State indigenes as shown in his indisputable victory in this year’s governorship election, which deservedly earned him a second term of office. By the governor’s own account, he also won 70 percent of the Muslim vote in the election despite being a Christian.
For once, the electorate in Oyo State left no one in doubt about their choice. Makinde’s electoral victory was a clear reward for his impactful and laudable achievements, and also an open endorsement of his government by an appreciative citizenry.
And his performance appears to be living up to the mark. In the latest edition of his bimonthly online newsletter, through which he keeps the citizens abreast of his activities, published on November 16, 2023, the governor spoke about a very important and instructive event deriving from his government’s 2019 demolition of the Organisation of Tadhamunul Muslimeen Central Mosque, (popularly called Adogba Central Mosque and considered an Islamic monument), in Iwo Road, Ibadan, in order to pave the way for the construction of a Mega Bus Terminal.
At a meeting with the worshippers on October 18, 2019, which was called to intimate them of the government’s decision, Makinde pledged to reconstruct the mosque in another suitable location at his personal expense. And true to his promise, on November 16, 2023, the newly reconstructed mosque was inaugurated by the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar, assisted by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States, Alhaji Dawud Makanjuola Akinola.
Speaking during the inauguration of the edifice, the governor took a trip down memory lane: “I went to the mosque and I worshipped with the Muslim Ummah. I told them that the mosque and the church around it will be demolished, because we have already put forward a roadmap for accelerated development, which means we had to focus on the development of our infrastructure. I understood the fact that there was trust deficit between the government and the people. So, before we even said anything, some people were already making insinuations…”
Without a doubt, this gesture by the governor will potentially reduce the long-established mutual mistrust between the government and the people. Not only was the mosque completed on time, it now boasts better structures and facilities.
In the area of infrastructure development, the governor has not been less open. In his November 16 newsletter, he spoke about his visit to Cairo, Egypt, on November 14, where he attended the Intra-Africa Trade Fair (IATF) 2023. He further revealed that his participation in the fair made it possible for his government to secure part of a N500 billion subnational loan facility.
Makinde disclosed that the loan facility would make it possible for the state government to continue with the construction of 110km economically strategic Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road and the Ibadan Airport runway expansion projects. These two landmark projects, in addition to the Independent Power Plants and the Dry Port being developed within the precinct of Moniya train station, are poised to create an industrial revolution in Oyo State, especially in the agro-allied sector, and re-establish Ibadan as the economic hub of the Southwest.
The state government is also delivering on its promise to develop a new business district around the rail corridor in Moniya with the take-off of the ‘Ilu Tuntun’ (New Town) project, while its much touted agro-industrial transformation has been signposted by the already bustling Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub in Oyo town, with others being developed in Eruwa and Ogbomoso. This is in addition to an array of completed projects and scores of others ongoing in all parts of the state.
Having done so much so far to gain the people’s trust, it behoves him to not allow himself to get carried away by the noise of sycophants. He should continue to subject his government’s decisions to the highest level of institutional scrutiny and guidance. No matter how well-meaning his intentions are, he should, as a matter duty, subordinate them to the regulation of systems and structures. And at whatever cost, he must remain open and accountable in the management of public resources.
Ladigbolu is a Lagos-based journalist.
