Open Letter To Engineer Oluseyi Makinde, Executive Governor Of Oyo State.
My Dear Brother, Governor Makinde,
For the first time in your seven years in office as governor of Oyo State, I have decided to put down a few words—both to encourage you and to offer some honest advice.
In the history of our state, you have made remarkable and positive impacts on the lives and property of our people.
I am proud of your selfless service and grateful for all you have done for Oyo State. You have truly made us proud. I thank God that a good administrator like you once lived among us in Yemetu, Oje, Ibadan.
I believe the tenure of late Chief Meredith Adisa Akinloye as National Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) helped shape our early love for politics. Seeing you rise to become Executive Governor today brings joy to all of us who knew you from those humble beginnings.
You are not a man of too many words but a man of action. You have never treated politics as your only means of survival. You are one of the few politicians who have a second address outside politics, and that speaks volumes about your character.
However, my brother, I observed something recently that did not sit well with me.
At the book launch of Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, you made a brief appearance despite your tight schedule, which was commendable. But in your goodwill message, you stated that you are the only governor in Nigeria without a godfather.
You said this in the presence of our revered Kabiyesi—our paramount ruler—who has served as a senator, a former governor, and one of the most successful businessmen in Nigeria.
By virtue of Kabiyesi’s position, he remains a father figure to us all—a moral and spiritual guide in Ibadan.
Today, you are our political leader and the number one citizen of Oyo State, no doubt. However, respect for and acknowledgment of traditional authority must always be preserved. If you recall, I quickly made that correction when I was given the microphone to speak.
Secondly, on the issue of producing your successor, I urge you to tread carefully. History has shown that many anointed successors often end up damaging the legacy of those who brought them into power.
Take, for example, former Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State. He was the Accountant General of the Federation before he was given the governorship ticket. Yet, the first person he had issues with after becoming governor was the very man who anointed him—former Governor Senator Danjuma Goje.
In Akwa Ibom State, former Governor Udom Emmanuel turned against the man who brought him from Zenith Bank into politics—former Governor Chief Godswill Akpabio.
These examples are just a few. Helping someone become governor does not guarantee loyalty when power comes; in many cases, it is the opposite.
And your belief that the next gubernatorial candidate in your party must be under 50 years of age—I pray that this GenZ generation will not let you down.
My brother, you have done well. You have built a strong name and legacy. Let anyone who wants to become governor after you carry his own cross. You may not even realise that God could be protecting you from enemies disguised as friends.
On the issue of the coronation of obas, I believe there is a need for reconsideration. The idea that the state government should fund the promotion of traditional chiefs to obas is not sustainable. Any chief aspiring to wear the beaded crown should be responsible for organising and funding such ceremonies.
The role of the government should be limited to presenting the staff of office to any aspiring beaded king who has paid the stipulated amount approved by the government. Government must not be Father Christmas.
It is not proper to use taxpayers’ money for these purposes when the government has more pressing responsibilities.
Promoting chiefs to obas should remain within the traditional institution, not driven or financed by the state.
If the role of obas becomes overly regulated or tied to political processes—especially with conditions like mandatory beaded crowns—many educated and influential mogajis may choose to remain in their current positions, rather than participate.
We must be careful not to mix traditional chieftaincy with politics.
Many sycophants who are shouting “the king can do no wrong” today said the same thing during the late Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s regime. They are the same set of people who shouted “hosanna” to late Governor Abiola Ajimobi. They align themselves with whoever is in power.
I remain your friend,
Mogaji Wole Arisekola,
N4/534, Yemetu Oje,
Ibadan.
