The Yorubas are a highly philosophical people. With a rich culture and profound language that teach life lessons, the Yoruba people come across as sages and wise men and women, especially when it comes to the use of their world-renowned ‘owe’ to dissect issues. ‘Owe,’ which one can interpret as proverbs, are wise sayings that are adapted into real life situations to solve them or elucidate matters. The ‘owe’ is an elevated Yoruba language; it can only be understood by the informed, deciphered by the wise and applied by the insightful and no one can be termed a wise man all the time, when it comes to the profundity of ‘owe.’ Ogun a wi te’le kii pa aro to ba gbon is an example of Yoruba’s ‘owe.’ This proverb is often translated into English as “To be forewarned is to be forearmed.” But there’s more to the former than the latter. The Yoruba version is talking about forewarning a cripple that war is coming. It goes to state that only a wise cripple will not die in such war. Why? A wise cripple is expected to have acted on time by leaving the impending war zone. He is expected to heed another proverb that says ‘A ti okeere ni oloju jin jin tii mu ekun sun.’ No, I am not about to ramble on about Yoruba culture and ‘owe,’ I only touched on the topic because an ‘owe’ is important to this discourse, which is all about speaking truth to power and speaking truth to the people, my people. I have only borrowed the two proverbs above to address what will become the most important issue in Oyo State in the coming months.
In the proverbs above, Oyo State and its people are the ‘Aro’ and the ‘Oloju jin jin,’ we are the ones that must heed the warnings to time and take the necessary precautions. The ‘ogun a wi te’le’ is the 2027 Governorship Race in the state and the wisdom that will be expected is for the people to set forth at dawn with regards to who occupies the Oke Oyinbo Government House next. No doubt, the last 13 years have been eventful in the life of Oyo State. In this one decade and three years, the Pacesetter State has enjoyed a quantum leap under the late Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi and the incumbent governor, Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde. In fact, it goes without saying that the progresses and growth witnessed in the last 13 years have surpassed the ones from the first 34 years of the state. [But politicians and those who ate crumbs from previous administrations before Ajimobi and Makinde will have a different opinion.] It is also worthy of note that under the current administration of Governor Makinde, a lot of positive indices have emerged about Oyo State, which are commendable and deserves to be improved upon. Beginning from the massive leap in Gross Domestic Product to the state ranking among the best six in Internally Generated Revenue, Oyo State has been giving what Gen Z children would call ‘good vibes’ in recent times. But what next after Makinde finishes his second term in the next three years?
While I have made a pact with Allah never to descend low to the abyss to praise-sing politicians, I must say that Makinde has made a good mark on governance in Oyo State, though not without his own failings and faltering. However, the continued prosperity of Oyo State must become a collective aspiration for all of us and must make us begin quite early to think about the post-Makinde years. We must think of the years to come, beginning from 2027, from the perspectives of which individual will be best-suited to carry on post-Makinde, what will become of our state once the petrol-dollars, which previous and current governors depend on to run states, dwindles or finishes and who can think out of the box to move Oyo State in a different direction that will still guarantee prosperity? In the last few weeks, I have read all sorts and heard all sorts about individuals warming up to take over from Makinde. From the asinine to the downright jejune, all sorts of scenarios are being created. I have laughed at the silliness of some of the ideas and scenarios, while I have also frowned on some individuals said to be touting or backing some aspirants. Of all the names I have read or heard, only one name has stood out as being worthy of consideration or thought when it comes to this all-important task ahead; Jubril Dotun Sanusi.
While I am yet to agree that Sanusi, whom I have read from afar as an unassuming individual, who may not be able to fit into the messy circles of politics, is interested in contesting the governorship election in Oyo State, the prospect of the idea is exciting. At least, Oyo would have a governorship aspirant, who has been doing something for the people with his hard-earned money and not some lousy capitalists and opportunistic individuals who think the fact that they have been minister, senator or House of Representatives make them the only ones qualified to become governor. Way before I read about Jubril Dotun Sanusi, I knew about ICAST schools and how the proprietor had been spending his money to build a concrete road before and after the school location in Elebu. I had also always been amused that anyone would choose Akanran to build a resort and use his hard-earned money to electrify the town as well as close to 100 other communities around the axis. So, if that individual is joining the race, it should at least offer a sort of hope. But more importantly, the beauty of the prospect of an Engr. Jubril Dotun Sanusi joining the governorship race is beyond his philanthropy. His ambition, when he decides to pursue it, would mean that the state and its people would have a viable choice in electing an individual that knows and is a major player in the oil industry but has mastered economic diversification to become the largest player in the tourism industry in Oyo State, if not the entire South-West.
With his Ilaji Hotel and Sport Resort, Sanusi has not only shown great examples to individuals and governments on how to shift focus from over-dependence on federal allocations, he has become one of the highest employers of labour and the pride of Oyo State in the tourism sector. It is heart-warming that the Oyo State government under Governor Makinde, which said it is pursuing the expansion of the state’s economy through tourism, recognised Engr. Sanusi’s industry and foresight and awarded him the Tourism Personality of the Year in April of this year. I pointed out earlier how residents of the state must think of the state’s survival beyond petrodollars and how whoever would succeed Makinde must be an individual who can think out of the box.
Certainly, Sanusi’s prowess in tourism and sport development, as recognised by Makinde’s government, is a fine pedestal that most of the other aspirants will not be able to stand on. And, truth be told, this pedestal; being able to develop Oyo State outside of federal allocations, is one that residents of Oyo State must put all aspirants and candidates on by looking at their antecedents and track records.
Akeseegun writes in from Ibadan
