From Omobola Odeyemi, Ibadan
When Engineer Seyi Makinde took over the reins of power on May 29, 2019 as the eighth governor of Oyo State, hopes were raised and expectations were in all-time high.
Judging from his philanthropy as a private citizen, the public expectations were in order.
During his inauguration at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, the governor declared that, “Oyo State is the pacesetter state. We are determined to continue setting the pace. We are poised to continue moving forward by focusing on the right priorities.”
In many fora, the governor has continued to say that the state would live up to its nickname: the Pacesetter State.
While performing the swearing-in ceremony of the Secretary to the government of the state, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, on July 1, Gov Makinde said his government targets supersonic performances that will dwarf the returns of the past government’s eight- year record. With that stated focus and set targets, he set a certain yardstick to judge his performance.
But is it really a new dawn in Oyo state? Has the governor made good his promises to redefine governance and set the state on the path of supersonic development?
While a majority of his compatriots will answer in affirmative, some may disagree.
In order to fulfill some of the promises made upon assumption of office, the Makinde-led administration took some decisions, which is the focus of this assessment of his 100 Days in Office:
SECURITY:
Needless to say, security is key to good governance. Little wonder, the immediate-past administration made efforts to restore peace and security by taming the perennial crises of the then National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and establishing the Joint Security Task Force known as `Operation Burst’ as well as a Security Trust Fund.
In its avowed resolve to sustained the past effort and secure the peaceful, the Makinde-led administration is working assiduously to strengthen the state security architecture.
His first masterstroke that doused the real fear and unease in the state prior to his inauguration was the proscription of the state wing of NURTW.
This singular act apparently proved wrong book markers, who had earlier predicted that a faction of the transport union would take over the leadership of public transport business and therefore shatter tranquility in the state.
Reinforcing that security remains his priority, the governor recently appointed a sought-after retired police chief, Fatai Owoseni, who was Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Benue states, two security -challenged states. It was a good one, matching his words with action.
For, the Director of the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies, at the University of Ibadan, Prof. Tajudeen Akanji, this singular effort to create a peaceful atmosphere in the state is laudable. Prof. Akanji cited steps taken to include instituting in a security summit and others.
“He supported the integrated security arrangement of the Southwest Governors. He also instituted a security summit. He seems to be engaging technocrats now. I think that’s the way to go. We should give him more time because his structure is new and young”.
EDUCATION:
In realisation of the pivotal role of education to attain development, the governor took a frontal decision that has gladdened the hearts of many parents and teachers: Right from the day of his inauguration, the governor abolished the immediate past administration’s N3,000 Education Development Levy for all public secondary School students and fulfilled his promise to increase education budgetary allocation to 10 per cent in the revised 2019 budget.
Of equal importance again is the directive that entry forms into the state’s Schools of Science and Junior Secondary Schools be made free henceforth. Also, the he abolished the N500 examination fee.
Emphasising his commitment to improving the education sector, the governor recently announced the payment of N500,000 bursary to each of the 120 students from the state at the Law School .
However, his education policies have come under raucous criticisms with some saying they are not well-thought out and are sheer populist.
That is the view of a business analyst , Mr. Olaoluwa Omorinde.
He said: “On education, it has been all rhetoric. The major stakeholders are not finding it easy. Nothing to run schools and you don’t want the head teachers to collect anything from the pupils. Last term, it was widely circulated that the teachers were writing questions on the board; the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) teachers engaged and paid from the levies are yet to be paid till now. No major infrastructure like new buildings, furniture and teaching materials. I hope the new academic session will be better managed so as not to run into crisis. Lastly, I think, he has a lot to understand about public governance. He is into a lot of “populist agenda”. Governance goes beyond all these”, Omorinde said.
He added: “As per the direction his government is moving, he needs to do more to convince the populace. Also, his appointees will have to go extra mile in delivering according to expectation.”
In the same vein, a public affairs analyst, Mrs. Yemi Alabi said, “for me now, he’s trying very hard to hold on to the people through populism ideas. The cancellation of the N3,000 education levy was hastily done in my estimation, as the examination hiccups experienced last term has shown”.
Also, Prof. Akanji who was specifically referring to the cancellation of the N3,000 levy, opined that the governor was making some policy decisions without studying the situation deeply.”
Though he applauded him for increasing education budgetary allocation to 10 per cent.
ASSET DECLARATION:
Strikingly, Governor Makinde made the headlines when he publicly declared his asset amounting to N48 billion. It caught Nigerians unawares because of it is unusual in this clime. It has won him admiration and commendations across the length and breadth of the country. To even think he is from a political party that has been worn the toga of corruption by its public and private citizens made his action a rebranding statement.
Though assets declaration is a constitutional matter as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended, it is not mandatory to make it public. Hence, when the governor declared, many mouths were left ajar considering the stupendous wealth of the man who has never held public office.
A business magnate, Makinde has never minced mince words in intimating the people of the pacesetter state that he is a wealth creator. During his swearing-in, the billionaire business tycoon unequivocally averred that he would banish poverty from the state. Again, speaking at the inauguration of the state ninth House of Assembly, Makinde reiterated that he would send bills for the establishment of anti-graft agency and investment promotion agency to the lawmakers. This is to ensure accountability and probity in government by plugging leakages in public finance and to likewise shore up the revenue profile of the government to enable it actualise its lofty policies and programmes .
True to his words, today, the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency bill and Oyo State Investments Promotion Agency Bills are in the works.
Speaking on the bills, the Chief Whip of Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Hakeem Adeshina Adedibu reportedly said that the anti-graft bill is at the committee stage, disclosing that a public hearing will be done on it.
The lawmaker representing Iwajowa state constituency also said the investment promotion bill is at an advanced stage. He pointed out that the bills will turn around the economic fortune of the state when became laws.
APPOINTMENTS:
In developing an institution, system or a country, human capital is fundamental. It is a truism that a leader who appoints the best brains and minds has the high potential to succeed.
That is what Governor Makinde has done: He went for seasoned corporate leaders and political colossi, leading to the assemblage of colourful team of vibrant professionals to drive his policies and programmes.
What is even more is his bipartisan approach. Since the day of his inauguration, the governor has been handpicking the best hands irrespective of partisan leaning, demography and geography. From the Secretary to State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun who had made indelible marks in the corporate world; to the Chief of Staff, Chief Bisi Ilaka, including the 17 Commissioners that were just sworn in to Special Advisers and Special Assistants, he has not left anyone in doubt that he is set to make a marked difference.
WELFARE:
One of the social covenants of the governor was making workers’ welfare a priority and a focal point. Living up to the promise, Makinde has consistently paid civil servants’ salaries on the 25th of every month, with August salary paid on the 23rd. Evidently, this has enabled the workers to plan ahead and their welfare with the assured effect on productivity.
Oyo Pensioners in jubilation
As salaries are being promptly paid, gratuity and pension payment are not left out. This gesture struck the right chord on those who received the gratuity and pensions leading to the writing of a commendation letter to the governor by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners in Oyo State.
Remarkably, in the letter addressed to the office of the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, the union’s state secretary, Comrade Olusegun Abatan, stated that for the first time in the history of Oyo state pensioners and workers, salaries and pensions were received on the Tuesday, June 25.
Another contentious issue in the last administration, which is being addressed by the governor, is the unjustifiable dismissal and retirement of 1, 947 workers. But in his bid to right the wrong, Governor Makinde approved the constitution of a 12-man committee headed by the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Commission, Mr. David Olatunde, with the mandate to look into various cases of alleged wrongful dismissal and/or retirement of officers from the State Civil/Public Service between years 2011 and 2019.
For the umpteenth time, Governor Makinde has said he is not in a hurry to build more health facilities but to maintain the existing ones. He recently expressed readiness to turn the hospital and other health centres across the state to world-class health centres that will be conducive for patients to receive quality treatment.
To bring his plans to fruition, the governor recently visited some health centres within the state with a promise to turn them into a medical tourist centre. Just recently, asphalting of the roads within the General Hospital, Adeayo has commenced.
Makinde with a smiling Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji
Another historic step being taken by the governor is the move to settle the royal rumble tearing the Olubadan-in-Council apart.
Two years ago, the elevation and coronation of chiefs polarised the once united Olubadan-In-Council, as the monarch opposed the said reform carried out by the state government under the leadership of Ajimobi. High Chief Rashidi Ladoja who stuck to his gun won in a landmark judgment delivered by Justice Aiki who described all the processes that led to the installation of new kings as illegal, null, void and of no effect.
Ajimobi, however, appealed the judgment until his successor, Governor Makinde, last week began an out-of-court settlement for reconciliation. Following this selfless move, the Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji who marked his 91st birthday on Tuesday received in his palace on Monday all the 21 new kings elevated by former Governor Ajimobi of Oyo State.
Notwithstanding the kudos, admiration and commendations, there are some actions of the governor, which have been roundly condemned.
Dr Olakojo
Dr. Solomon Olakojo of the Department of Economics, University of Ibadan, said the only thing he could see so far is that he has been building his cabinet for the task ahead.
He said: “Overall, he seems to have people at the centre of his administration”.
In the same vein, Dr. Olabode Badiru of Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development University of Ibadan, said:
“It’s too early to assess, but he seems to have started on a good note with the strategic meetings he has been having with the IITA team and the trip to Songhai”.
He added: “However, we are yet to see his blueprint on agriculture detailing the KPIs that would be used to track his government’s achievements”.
In these 100 days, the government has been critised the opposition APC as a result of some of its actions.
One of such actions immediately he was sworn in was the sacking of local government chairmen elected last year when Ajimobi was in the saddle.
Another step, which made some analysts and politicians to raised eyebrow on is the governor’s N10 billion loan request.
The Oyo State chapter of the APC faulted the endorsement of the N10 billion infrastructure loan request by the state’s House of Assembly.
Specifically, the party described the endorsement of the loan as evidence of political naivety by the lawmakers .
De Olatunde
The party in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abdulazeez Olatunde, said this in a statement, raising he follower posers. “Can the decision to obtain such huge debt of N10 billion be taken without the state executive council in place? Has the state budget been reviewed before the House of Assembly for the loan to be fixated to the expenditure framework component of the budget?”
As Makinde marked 100 days in office, Dr. Badiru advised him, saying: “He should align his programmes with that of the Federal Government on agriculture. He should also leverage on existing projects supported by the World Bank and other donour agencies to fast-track investments in the area of agriculture and rural development. Overall, his intervention programmes in agriculture should be research-driven”. Yet there is no gainsaying the fact that Makinde stands high and above his counterparts in the country today, if only for his intention to match words with people-oriented actions.
