Makinde’s 100 Days Score-Card…

Seyi Makinde’s cartoon illustration

I religiously read Gov. (Engr.) Seyi Makinde’s “100 Days: Restoring glory to Oyo State” published to mark his first 100 days in office, a rite that came with the introduction into Nigeria of the America-styled presidential system of government. Tell the youthful and energetic governor to pardon me, if I did not include his other titles; he must be a chief; so, Gov. Engr. Chief Seyi Makinde and whatever else! Our people, especially so, our leaders, love titles, big, big titles, except Makinde is the different kettle of fish he claims to be. I also read his Chief Press Secretary, my brother and professional colleague, Taiwo Adisa, on the same 100 days.

It is not all the time that a governor writes. Most governors feel too big to write. That is a job for the “press boys” – and they have them aplenty. Virtually all governors are damn too busy to find the time to put pen to paper. The truth, however, is that only a few of them are qualified to write. There is high illiteracy level in the ranks of our leaders, the pomp, colour and razzmatazz around them notwithstanding. So, it is always with pleasure that we see one big man who writes, especially when it is noted that the writing is original and not one of those drab “press statements” or commissioned write-ups by consultants and speechwriters. Reading Makinde’s “100 Days”, it appears to me to have been personally scribbled by Makinde, even if anyone else crossed the t’s and dotted the i’s afterwards.

Makinde said he chose to “celebrate” his first 100 days in office not as others do but to see how far he has matched action with words. He made campaign promises and wanted himself and us to see how far he has kept faith with “we the people” In this, he differs dramatically from President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress who made campaign promises which they later denied. Recently, social media was awash with campaign statements and promises made by Buhari, which has been honoured in their breach – all of them without an exception! It is noteworthy that Makinde is a PDP governor, the only one in the South-west. Politicians who make promises but spurn them after winning elections are the ones who give politicians a bad name and politics an ignoble reputation. You must have heard the saying “politics is a dirty game” That Makinde chose to be different is salutary. That Makinde is bold enough to ask us to hold his feet to the fire; that he is holding himself accountable to his campaign promises and is not saying “that was politics”, like the unconscionable others do, is an achievement. I agree with him. Achievement number one!

I remember reading when Makinde publicly declared his assets. I think it was a whopping N48 billion and some shameless APC politicians started asking him to explain how he came into his riches rather than burying their head in shame and shutting up their stinking mouth. Buhari made the promise of public declaration of assets in 2015; he failed to keep the promise. They said all their appointees would declare their assets publicly but they recanted. As they say, if gold rusts, what will silver do? If Buhari will not publicly declare his assets; if his VP, “Man-of-God” Yemi Osinbajo, will not, why should we expect others to do so? A good start by Makinde, no doubt, but he should now take the next step of compelling all his appointees to also publicly declare their own assets. In saner societies, public declaration of assets or unrestrained access to the assets declared by public office holders will be routine but this is Nigeria, a country of the blind leading the blind and where the one-eyed is king! As witnessed in the case of ex-CJN Walter Onnoghen, assets declaration is a vicious weapon in the hands of the powers-that-be against perceived opponents.

Makinde touted the appointments he made as outstanding. We are yet to see that! As they say, the taste of the pudding is in the eating. People may look good on paper, with all the requisite (paper) qualifications and cognate experience but performing on the job is something else. Has the governor put square pegs in square holes? Performance on the job and delivering the deliverables will show! Action, as they say, speaks louder than words. I am, however, particularly interested in Makinde’s promise that his youthful Commissioner for Youth and Sports would turn around the fortunes of Shooting Stars Sports Club. I was a fan of Shooting Stars, supporting it all the way against the likes of Rangers International. Up Shooting! Sadly, no more! If Shooting Stars can be returned to its glory days, I will lionise Makinde, regardless of the uproar that greeted his nomination of the youthful Commissioner. So, achievements claimed by Gov. Makinde in this category still hang in the balance like an unripe fruit which cannot yet be plucked and eaten – unless Makinde wants to eat unripe bananas! Verdict: Work in progress!

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