SEGUN SHOWUNMI EXTOLS SEYI MAKINDE @ 58.
Happy Birthday, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde.
As you mark your 58th birthday and gradually enter the final phase of your tenure, it is an appropriate moment for reflection on the journey that brought you to the saddle as Governor of Oyo State.
On governance, fairness demands honesty. You have recorded notable achievements, particularly in the transformation of Oyo State, with Ibadan standing as the most visible beneficiary of your developmental interventions. Anyone familiar with what Ibadan once was can clearly appreciate how far the city has come under your leadership. For this, you deserve commendation, and I wish you the grace to finish strong.
That said, leadership is a balance of governance and politics. While your developmental record is strong, it is difficult to ignore the concerns around your political management. You have, unfortunately, appeared careless in managing relationships with those who stood firmly behind the administration that brought you to office.
The estrangement of close allies most notably members of the so-called “Gang of Five” has carried consequences not just for individuals, but for the broader health and cohesion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The failure to sustain collective discipline and unity after 2023 has weakened the party’s ability to present a coherent leadership direction ahead of 2027.
The paradox remains striking: a governor widely acknowledged for competence in development, yet markedly less attentive to the demands of inclusive and strategic political management.
The notion that a complex party in a complex country can be driven by the energy of one individual alone what I describe as a “G-1” approach risks isolating allies and undermining institutional strength.
As you begin to wind down, there remains time to heal old wounds and repair political bridges. I encourage reconciliation with those who have legitimate grievances those who feel mistreated, sidelined, or abandoned. Politics, like life, has a way of returning what we put into it. What goes around, indeed, comes around.
My brother whom I fondly call Star Boy may your star shine even brighter in the years ahead.
Happy birthday once again, and congratulations to your family, especially your wife, the First Lady.
Many happy returns.
Post a Comment