For the first time, I found myself under the same roof with the Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde on the 14th of November 2024. As one of the governor’s fiercest and consistent critics, it was surprising to catch up on the man whose government has endured many of my intellectual slingshots. Coming to watch the man who’s ruled the state for the past five years with a tight fist while making mental notes of his activities inside the hollow chamber summed up my long-held opinion of the engineer-turned-politician.
In 2021 when I started this column, I was quick to coin the name ‘MAKINDENOMICS’ to describe the governor whose government, to the chagrin of the opposition parties, had embarked on so many audacious and ambitious projects across the state’s nooks and crannies. In essence, I was merely warning members of the opposition to engage in issue-based criticism instead of name-calling, and mudslinging kind of political dogfights.
While my presence inside the gallery of the State House of Assembly was accidental, that of the Governor was deliberate. As expected of any sitting governor, Engr. Makinde was in the state assembly complex to present the 2025 appropriation bill tagged budget of stabilization to the state lawmakers. It was a bill, that according to the Governor would help to stem the tide and stabilize the state from the storm it had weathered in the last year. For one, I was in the assembly complex to honor the invitation of one of my friends who’s a lawmaker. In other words, I was a bit discontent with the turns of things, given that I had other important events to attend, yet it was truly eye-opening to have waited and watched the budget presentation, for the first time, in addition to the back-and-forth questions and answers between the lawmakers and the Governor plus the spontaneous display of affection and admiration for the governor by a bevy of gingerly excited women wing of the PDP!
Truth be told, I came out of that budget presentation with an enlightening mind, in addition to walking away with a richer and deeper perspective and understanding of such an integral part of our political system. Whether at home or in the office, it is an ancient truism that a structure that runs on a budget should achieve more than the one that goes with the flow. Conversely in Nigeria, the yearly budget in the grand scheme of things hasn’t essentially bridged the socio-economic divides for millions of others. So, the frustration and angst against such an annual ritual as the budget presentation is almost palpable everywhere in the country. While the vast majority of the people know the essence of budget proposal in the overall interest of the country’s economic trajectory, the infinitesimal nature of its effect in addressing the pressing needs of various households has created an atmosphere of chronic pessimism in the system. For one, I shared in those sentiments of worry and angers, yet, I contend that they are not the true representation of the whole picture. Change takes time to bear fruits and to change the way people see and do things is to challenge how they define themselves.
The day started brightly with the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edward Adebo Ogundoyin led the house in a solemn prayer. He thereafter asked the house leader, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin (Ogbomosho South) to welcome dignitaries to the event; after which the governor took the floor of the house. Surprisingly, instead of jumping right into his speech, the governor rather quietly and graciously addressed a perceived breach of protocol by the leader of the house. The leader of the house apparently by no fault of his, had welcomed the traditional rulers by sidestepping the order of hierarchy. Since he read from a paper, the assumption was that those who handled him the list of monarchies must have committed the blunder. The Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi for instance was initially introduced and welcomed rather casually, unbefitting of a royal father of his status. The Governor, having realized that misstep, reintroduced the King properly, and even told other Kings of the desire of the state government to revive the Oyo State Traditional Councils of Obas and Chiefs.
The last time the council sat for meeting, according to the governor, was in 2011 when the late Alao-Akala controversially removed the Alaafin of Oyo, out of political vendetta as the permanent chairman, of Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs. More than a decade after that political spat, the council hasn’t deemed it fit to sit, at least for once. Late Abiola Ajimobi for example avoided the contentious and hot-button matter throughout his eight years in office for the obvious reasons: he wasn’t interested in stepping on the toes of prominent personalities in the state. Realizing his subtle message of reviving the council of Obas had struck the right chords, the governor proceeded to give his speech.
Out of the blue, a bevy of enthusiastic cheerleaders of the governor, standing at the upper right corner of the gallery disrupted the atmosphere with carefully choreographed songs, praising the governor’s transformational strides with his life changing ideas and innovation. In minutes that followed, the chorus simmered and excited with the energy flow in the chamber, the governor furthered his talk. Rather than walking straight into the details of the 2025 budget, Governor Makinde instead strolled back into the budget performance of the current year.
He said the government had set 70% as its budget performance benchmark for the year 2024 but fell short, with the budget recording 65 performance rate. He added that the milestone was still better and greater compared to the success recorded by the previous administration whose budget performances often struggled with the scaling the 30% budget performance rate. Still, the governor said renewed efforts would be invested and channeled to ensure the overall budget performance of the following year is improved upon. He spoke about the various programs, projects, and policies the government had carried out, executed, and implemented in the interest of the people of the state. He added that the state government under his watch has recruited more hands in the civil service, public service, primary health care centers, and other government ministries, departments and agencies than any in the history of the state.
“Mr. Speaker Sir”, the governor chimed in “Honorable members of the House, permit me at this point to present the Oyo State 2025 Appropriation Bill that will support the new minimum wage, and power further investments in our economy, education, healthcare and security sectors”. For 2025, government proposed N678,086,767,332.18, that is six hundred and seventy-eight billion, eighty-six million, seven hundred and sixty-seven thousand, three hundred and thirty-two-naira, eighteen kobo. Capital expenditure takes the larger chunk with 51 per cent while the remaining 49 per cent goes to recurrent expenditure.
Infrastructure development and education sector equally took the lion’s share. As the governor presented the budget, he bowed reverently to the maze while selected lawmakers warm up to take on the governor. To demonstrate judicious use of time, each zones had a member speak on its behalf. That moment when lawmakers like Sanjo Adedoyin (Ogbomoso South), Gbenga Oyekola (Atiba), Jimoh Lukman (Oorelope) among others commended the governor while asking him for more eloquently and articulately summarized my stay inside that gallery. And when the governor responded, it was to reassure members and the public of his unwavering commitment and dedication to transforming lives in the state. In the end, I observed the gallery for instance was fully packed with mobilized political actors, invited media practitioners among others. Still, the absence of many vibrant young people whose future are being decided upon should worry us all. If the future of our state is in young people’s hands, sustained efforts must be put in place to address their concerns, complaints and grievances.
OYO101 is Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion about issues affecting the Oyo state and is published every Saturday 16 Nov 2024
