SIR: The 2019 gubernatorial electoral cycle marked the third time Seyi Makinde entered the race for Agodi governor’s office after two previous failed attempts.
Four years have passed by. We’re in the thick of another governorship election. Providence has invaded the state with another peculiar circumstance orchestrated, presumably to favour the same man.
Governor Makinde was in the group of G-5 who stood their grounds to frustrate emergence of Atiku Abubakar, PDP presidential candidate. Their grouse: Their clamour for power shift to the south was totally ignored by their party, PDP.
Of that G-5 group, Makinde and Nyesom Wike of Rivers State decided to pitch their tents with Asiwaju Tinubu, while other governor members of the group opted for the Labour Party candidate.
For the first in the history of Oyo State, a presidential candidate swept the polls in resounding manner in all the 33 LGAs in a presidential poll. Not even in the glorious days of late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the feat achieved!
The character behind the huge and unassailable victory of Asiwaju Tinubu was Seyi Makinde himself, who chose to identify with the cause instead of pursuance of vainglory and selfish interests. He mandated all the PDP leadership hierarchy in all the nooks and crannies to roll out the party arsenals to back the president-elect. He sacrificed PDP aspirants, some of whom were reasonably sure of victory at polls.
With this development, there is no other way to pay him back than to return him to office for the second term. Even though, I’ve been a virulent critic of his administration over the last four years, there comes a time that good reasoning must prevail.
I’ve had cause to criticize his Lighting Project across the state, huge fund committed to rehabilitate Adamasingba Stadium, colossal fund deployed to Iwo Road Interchange project, Iseyin-Ibadan and Ogbomoso-Iseyin roads construction, even other infrastructural projects across the state, as well as educational investment in the state.
In fact, I continually spoke against his involvement in G-5 group affirming that the governor was dissipating energy where there won’t be result, as well as committing the state hard-earned resources on a venture that won’t be worthwhile. Now, he has proved himself!
As it is, there is no other way to compensate him than to equally roll out our political arsenal for the purpose of returning him to the governor’s office for another four years. That’s the least we can do.
This is therefore a clarion call to all the stakeholders in the state-political leaders across party divides, leaders of thoughts, royal fathers, women and youth groups, artisans, downtrodden, students etc. to mobilize and canvass for supports of all and sundry to return Makinde for the second term in office.
•Kola Amzat (FCA, FCIB)
Lagos.
