Indeed, nothing in life is static. Change is the only thing that is constant in all dynamic climes. Oyo State, having assumed the reputation of a Pacesetter among other States in Nigeria cannot afford to dance backwards.
Backward movement can never result in progress and development. With the new gear change in governance the new PDP government headed by Governor-elect Seyi Makinde (GSM) needs to step in and press on the throttle of progress. Today in Nigeria there seems to be some kind of subtle competition among states with the newer and younger Governors struggling to move their states forward by outdoing their predecessors in offices. It is thus clear that the younger digital generation is consciously trying to take over from the analogue generation of elders.
What a welcome development! I cannot but recall my last article on Nigeria titled “What is Wrong with Nigeria?” wherein I brought to focus a glossary of unnecessary pursuit of mundane issues which our nation has had to grapple with at the expense of the real issues which could benefit us. Nigeria is faced with the serious problems of insecurity, deplorable economy, corruption, declining educational standards, poor health and much more, yet we have time to pursue a Nigerians nationality. What a waste of energy? We have just demonstrated to the rest of the world that our nation is lacking in focus. I pray that this will not be the lot of the new GSM administration. In the words of my alma mater (Fiditi Grammar School) adspice virtutem, Oyo State shall be Onward Ever and backward never by His grace and mercy.
As at the time of writing this article, only two Oyo State politicians have been duly employed. All other politicians for the next dispensation of GSM are still ‘begging to apply’. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave the employment letters to GSM and his deputy as their letter of Election triumph was handed to them. The implication of this fact is that every political posts and positions in Oyo State are up for grabs and the struggle by prospective office holders continues to intensify until final pronouncements are made filling the available positions. Again, in line with my previous writeups on GSM, he has to fit square pegs in square holes for the good of Oyo State, rather than responding to political expediencies. GSM must not respond to the complex political expediencies at the expense of compromising the Pace Setter legacy he is inheriting from his predecessors.
Governance should no longer be in accordance with the Chop I Chop Nigerian tradition, if he (GSM) wants to move Oyo State forward. The realities of proper governance is here now and the period of political rhetoric is over. The question which the Oyo State people are asking is ‘what innovation and legacy will GSM leave behind for Oyo State?” One hopes and prays that as an Engineer surrounded by Engineers both in and out of his bedroom as wife, Deputy, Advisers and Contractors, the best is yet to come for Oyo state. This being so, he cannot afford to be bogged down with the trivialities of governance at the expense of leaving a good account of himself and for legacy. Four years is not such a long time and a possible eight years will be heavily dependent on his first four-years performance. People who want to work for him and his administration should be prepared for hard work and for excellence in performance for the betterment of Oyo State. The attitude of our politicians needs to change, the attitude of citizens must change, the market men and market women, Okada riders, Micra Drivers and Marwa Drivers, and people in other sectors must change, if we must move the State forward. The clue to me, is to make laws and enforce the laws for proper sanitization of the State. At the moment there is a lot of lawlessness (indiscipline) in all the sectors of the State. Lawlessness and good governance do not go together in the pursuit of progress and development. There is a lot of work ahead of GSM.
In our readiness to keep and retain the status of truly setting the pace for others to follow, Oyo State and its people need to obey some basic rules of good living and good governance. The people of Oyo State must have some attitudinal change which will result in being disciplined in our homes, in places of work and in the public and social outings. We need to delete from our systems all forms of laziness, corruption and indiscipline. Perhaps this is the time to bring to the fore, the WAI campaign as we strive to move our state forward. We can be the cynosure of all eyes as a progressive pace setter State. We need to push our reset buttons and wear a new look if we want our state to continue setting the pace. For the whole of Nigeria, Oyo State had always been the first among ‘others’ rather than saying among ‘equals’! A cursory look at the History of developments in Nigeria and indeed Africa, will convince the sceptics as the first Television Station, Sky Scrapper (Cocoa House) Modern Stadium, etc. in AFRICA were the attributes of our Pace Setter Oyo State. Anyone is in doubt should please check out these facts. All of these facts underscore the importance of and the need for any new Governor to take a hard look at the handiworks of the ‘Pacesetter personified’ in the person of our late sage, Papa Chief Obafemi Awolowo, of blessed memory. May his soul continue to rest in perfect peace. All eyes are on the youngest Governor ever in Oyo State, His Excellency GSM. May your reign bring peace and progress to Oyo State, Amen.
Professor Adekunle Akinyemi is the President/CEO of Ceezek Foundation, Inc. and Chairman/CEO of the BookHouse Education Trust of Nigeria. He writes regularly on InsideOyo.com and a feature writer in the Nigeriaworld, News about Nigeria.
