Makinde: What manner of man!
Kunle OYELEYE
Kunle Oyeleye, a former media officer, Admintrative Secretary and general manager of Crown Football Club of Ogbomoso, Oyo state, pens this piece. He is a long time management member of this medium.
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“What manner of Man” is book about the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth, who arguably is the greatest man who ever lived. A number of his followers believed him to be their long-awaited and prophesied Messiah, who would restore the kingdom the Jews enjoyed under Kings David and his son Solomon.
However today, the eulogy is not about Jesus Christ but about leaders across the world whose deeds are measured by their passions and dispositions to public good.
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Leaders are loved or hated for their show of empathy to matters of public concerns and hated for their draconian behaviours to the aggravation of public pains and display of lackadaisical attitude towards their citizens.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has again demonstrated his genuine and humane passion he was known for in his first term; he was always a man of immense passion for people and citizens no matter whose ox is gored, I was at Ogbomoso l when he came to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital where the workers sacked from the hospital by late Governor Abiola Ajimobi besieged him with placards of different inscriptions asking for mercy of His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, for their reabsoprtion into the service of the institution. The governor had information on their matter prior his Ogbomoso trip. The man just called the immediate past Head of Service Alhaja Ololade Agboola who was sitting near him and instructed her to furnish him with further information and promised them right there to reabsorb them. Some other incidents like that have marked his tenure. Another scenario that justifies passion for this writeup was in 2019 shortly after his victory at the poll, some political gladiators of Ogbomoso extract in his party had compiled a list to take over an agency of the state by sacking workers that were genuinely working to earn their daily living but His Excellency foiled the plot that would have been a disaster for many families, he killed the memo sent to him to do the hatchet’s job though in this second spell another cabal succeeded without the knowledge of His Excellency. Also, the state’s paralympic’s athletes after a certain competition besieged the governor’s office for demands in somewhat of a rude manner but the governor instead of him to get peeved as was the practice of the former occupant of the Agodi House, he gave them money that day from his pocket and directed immediate fulfillment the promise he made with them.
Again the Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, declined assent to the Presumptive Tax Bill passed by the state House of Assembly, citing the current plight of the people. He rejected the bill on the ground that it would impose additional burden on the poor, stating that the people were already struggling due to the current economic reality in the country.
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He averred that anything that will put money in the pocket of the people is what he was interested in, so they could use it where it’s needed most. “At this time, I’m not interested in any policy that will empty their pockets. I’ll continue to fight poverty and not fight the poor,” the governor said.
The most recent that orchestrated this adulation is the brouhaha that attended the Ladoja Circular road Ibadan on the setback of the roads that have affected so many families and compounds. The information has it that 300meters, 500meters had been gazetted before GSM got to the office and 150 but due to public uproar and several pleas from the masses the man has again demonstrated statesmanship and passion that he was originally known for by directing the contractors to stop demolition forthwith for a new design of 75meters setback both sides. That houses on the 500 meters corridor shall not be demolished, what manner of man! There’s no better way to measure a leader that constantly checks himself and feels the pulse of his own people.
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Engineer Seyi Makinde at the beginning of this administration represented hope, passion, knowledge, firmness, prosperity and compassion but some bad elements are trying to dent the image of the ‘Oyo messiah’ for their selfish political reason and ego, perpetrating evil under the man. Am convinced of his worthy belief in the masses and overall common good for the people as amply demonstrated in his first term but shortly after the commencement of this term those people, whom l can call a minority began an onslaught on the common and defenceless people bringing bad image for the ‘Oyo messiah,’ I wish the governor can monitor more the people under him so they won’t continue painting and representing him in bad light for every man has his father’s name. He has achieved his good name on a dint of hardwork, extensive study and deep knowledge of his society and people . Seyi Makinde is never a bad man enough is enough!
