Of all the second term governors, Governor Seyi Makinde, of Oyo State, seems to be in the most precarious political situation, just unlike most of his G5 governor-mates, namely Samuel Orton, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwguanya, and their leader, Nyesom Wike, who worked against their party in the 2023 poll. According to source, there is no way for him politically from here, like Ortom before him.
Apart from Ortom, who lost out in the political calculations after 2023 polls over the opposition against their party, the PDP, Makinde is the next in turn as the rest of the infamous group have been settled comfortably by the President Bola Tinubu administration, two as ambassadors, and Wike as the most powerful politician in Nigeria beside the president.
When came in for his second term in office, he had been enmeshed in several crises, which centered on tradition, politics and style of governance, which people believed could affect his political future, social standing and most importantly his relationship with the people, after his eight years tenure in office.
Although, it was said that he could maneuver, politically, though he may not be relevant if the present APC is still in power at the Federal level, for another four years and if peradventure, the party still controls the state in the coming election, what will make him lose total relevance and face amongst the people, is his controversial amendment to the Chieftaincy law of Oyo State.
General Without Troops
Looking at the political situation, although he claims to control a body of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), he could as well be described now, as a soldier without a trooped, since the law Court has stripped him of the instruments, which he could use to direct his so called troops.
Since the court ruled to give recognition to the other faction, led by the former governor of Rivers State, FCT minister Nyesom Wike, Gov. Makinde no doubt and glaringly too, has been drifting from one political decision or the other.
All these decisions are believed to have been having serious effect on the members of the PDP in Oyo State. Initially, he was bold and strongly believed that he was sure and confident enough of anointing a successor, with the so much power and authority, at his disposal.
This has made the arrays of gladiators, especially those interested in the governorship, to flock round him currying his favour.
But the situation is no longer the same, now in the State, that the pendulum has shifted to the other side of the faction of the party.
Unlike six months ago, when some gladiators were termed has Makinde’s favourites, thing are not the same again and this made him to announced that the contest to the governorship race in his party is free for all, as he has no preferred or any favourite candidate. He even made it clear that those wishing to contest are free to use his picture on their bill boards.
While some are doing ithis as pronounced, others are out with their billboards using only the logo of the PDP, knowing fully well that the influence of the governor may not count in the coming elections and would not want his picture on their banners and billboards as not to spoil their chances and the sympathy people may have for them, which makes them to remain neutral for now, and watching the political developments.
A Divided House
There were speculations too, that in due course, many PDP supporters and leaders, who still wanted to be politically relevant, may shift their allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or other political parties which would not lead to their disqualifications.
This speculation may have been the reason, one of his closest allies, and a popular radio proprietor, who people believed earlier on would contest the governorship election, in PDP.
Oriyomi Hamzat who owns the popular Agidogbo FM, was said to be very wise enough to have seen that his future no longer stands with the Makinde’s PDP and swiftly moved to the Accord Party, to pursue his political ambition.
Hamzat, with his outing in Accord, has become one of the hottest contenders in Oyo State, based on his foresight to move to a new party devoid of controversies.
The recent romance of Gov. Makinde with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which he earlier went to and now back in a serious talks with, was believed to be his fear of uncertainty, politically and a move to be relevant now and after his tenure.
It was said that while, his colleagues in the G5, who were opposed to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidency in 2023, have teamed up with President Tinubu, because of what was described as Makinde’s inconsistency, he has gone back to eat his vomit, by wanting to team up with those, described as their enemies.
Ambition Die Fast
Although initially, when his faction of the PDP was gaining grounds, it was being speculated that the governor was keenly interested in flying the presidential flag of the PDP.
But now when that dream appears to have been shattered with the new developments, Gov. Makinde is romancing with the ADC to join forces to outwit President Tinubu in 2027 in in Oyo State, which appears dicy given that he no longer controls the PDP..
Whatever the case may be, the political permutations both at the National level and Oyo State, with the strong move by the APC to win the state back, if they field the right candidate in 2027, may put Gov. Makinde’s political future in jeopardy.
Coming to his style of governance, although he has done a lot on infrastructures, especially, on road projects, he has dabbled into so many issues, especially land, which are government spaces for the development of estates, parks and shopping malls, that have put him at logger heads with many people, especially in Ibadan.
The APC which is the major opposition in the state has been using that aspects to disparaged his government and nicked named it as “land grabbing administration”.
The issue of the part of the Oyo State library acquired and giving to private developers to build shopping complex, generated so much heat and led to protests.
Other areas aquired for private developments, still generating issues, are those along the railway line stretching from Aleshinloye’s junction to Odoona, in Alalubosa axis of the state, while some are at Iwo road, and total garden areas of Ibadan metropolis..
Although, government officials defended the governor that he meant well for the developments of the state, many people and the opposition did not see it that way. They claimed that they were acquired and given to developers, who were favoured by the governor, especially, that of the state Library space, now occupying ultra-modern shopping complex, not affordable to the common people, ditto many, private housing estates, with the same situation.
Fight to Finish
However, despite the government position, people are bent to fight on. That is why, residents and political groups in Oyo State, particularly in Ibadan, are raising concerns over Makinde’s land acquisition of a 500-meter setback on both sides of a new circular road, describing it as “land grabbing” for private developers.
Those affected, staged several protests when the government decided to increase the acquisition from an initial 75 meters to 500 meters.
Apart from the APC which has continued to criticise governor Makinde’s administration’s actions, the African Action Congress (AAC) also accused the government, asking the rational behind the aquisition, describing it , as “land grabbing”, which was unnecessary and pointed out that the governor planned to seize the land for associates.
Instead of addressing the concern to reverse the 500 meter decision, the governor dismissed their claims despite their protests and this situation, and aggravated tension between the state government and landowners, who claimed that the governor lied over the N2 billion disbursement as compensation to them.
Another boiling controversial issue on governor Makinde’s neck over acquisition of land is those affecting people of Akinyele areas of Ibadan as the people of the area also battled the governor. They claimed that taking their properties was a nightmare for them as one Mrs. Foluke Akande said, that many residents were not informed about their properties to be demolished.
It was said that a total of 1,599 hectares of land at Ajia and 1,500 hectares at Akinyele were alleged to have been forcefully taken by the state government, which raised serious suspicions that the government officials might be up to some shady deals.
One of the affected areas is Ajia which is governor Makinde’s ancestral town. His people were reported to have alleged that, the government of their son, initially claimed that the acquired lands would be used to build an ultra-modern ICT centre, Nigerian Air Force base, and expand primary and secondary school facilities within the community.
But the people, however later, claimed that with their investigations, that the government, was not in any way, transparent with these plans.
They argue that during the celebration of one year demise of High Chief, Theophilus Akinyele, a former Federal head of service, who hailed from Ajia, six years ago, the administration was proposing the developmental projects, only within the government’s old acquisition.
They further argued that Governor Makinde their son, allegedly deceived them and presented the project in a way that they could not reject, but they later found out that he was economical with the truth, as one of the earmarked projects, the Air Force base was cited outside the land size originally earmarked for its construction, with the new allocation, extending beyond the 44 hectares of the old acquisition which made them to argue that the governor was not honest with them.
The then chairman of the . Community’s land Lord Association, Samuel Olaleye, said “no member of the communities was consulted and there was no arrangement or agreement reached, with the state government on the acquisitions. “The people in the communities were taken aback as to what the state government intend to do with a whole 1,700 hectares added to an old acquisition yet unutilised?”
Mr. Samuel Olaleye, then argued that the people are skeptical if the government would be able to pay the huge compensations that go with the acquisitions, as they further pointed out that people of Akinyele have been used to none fulfillment of promises concerning land acquisitions, for government projects in the area.
Chieftaincy Crisis
However, one other major issue, which Governor Makinde would have to grappled with after office, is what people called the bastardization of the Chieftaincy Matters in Oyo State, regarded as unprecedented in the history of the state since 1957, which the chietaincy declaration law of Ibadan for instance, was made.
It was Makinde that finally tampered with it and this generated a lot of issues among the people and the Chiefs, especially members of the Olubadan in Council.
Makinde’s amendments to the law now compels those in Olubadan in council to be crowned as king before they could be crowned as Olubadan.
This move, was opposed by the present Olubadan Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja. In fact, it was being insinuated that the law was targeted at him from becoming Olubadan, if he stood his grounds that he would not accept what he described then, as the “paper crown” before he became Olubadan.
Eventually, he was prevailed, to accept the then beaded crown, few months before he was finally crowned, as the present Olubadan.
Now that Makinde’s law has become an order and effective, something unusual happened barely two weeks ago, when without the consent of the Olubadan three High Chiefs were crowned by the governor in absentia.
This action became another
unprecedented incident in Ibadan on April 3rd, which people said it raised moral and legal questions.
Despite this, they were eventually declared as Obas at the historical Mapo Hall in Ibadan and their coronation was presided over by the Deputy Governor Adebayo Lawal, who represented the governor.
The absence of the chiefs at their own coronation generated another controversy, which Makinde would take home after office because he did what has never happened in the traditional history of Yoruba race, which requires those being coronated, to be physically present and the normal ritual rites performed before being crowned to legitimise their status as kings.
What also bothered the people of Ibadan was the speculation that Makinde’s intention could have been targetted at Senator Sharafadeen Alli, one of the affected Chiefs gunning for the governorship of the state.
For the avoidance of doubt,the three concerned High Chiefs due to be coronated have formally informed the Olubadan that they would be unavailable, and have, therefore, asked for postponement.