2027: What Seyi Makinde Must Not Do

There is no doubt that, though three years away, all eyes are on the year 2027.

2027 is an election year, the time when those who performed well will reap the benefits, and those who did little or nothing will regret their laxity. As the saying goes, in life, what you put in, is what you get out.

That said, Governor Seyi Makinde is one of the Nigerian governors who has so far attained near-perfect scores in leadership, progress, and development. His scorecard is such that he can hold his head high anywhere in the world. As many political pundits have analyzed, Makinde’s political career will become a powerful force at the national level when he hands over in 2027.

In his chronicle of the Gallic War, Julius Caesar said, “The best leaders behave rationally and don’t allow their feelings or preconceived notions to dominate their decision-making.” Herein lies the bane of political players when it comes to relinquishing power in Nigeria.

Many have taken a grand fall, standing on the banana peel of ‘imposition’ and ‘godfatherism.’

The attempt to play God by scuttling the will of the people and imposing an unpopular candidate, simply because a leader has the power, has led to the downfall of those who try it.

Peeking into history from the first republic to modern-day democracy, it is evident that very few have succeeded in holding on to power through puppeteering or extension.

Let’s consider some examples from the Second Republic in 1999 to date:

Saraki – Lawal

Nwobodo – Nnamani

Adedibu – Ladoja

Uba – Ngige

Adedibu – Ladoja

Obasanjo – Jonathan

Tinubu – Ambode

Oshiomhole – Obaseki

Jonathan – Amaechi

Wike – Fubara

From the above, it is clear that godfatherism does not favor the power-drunk.

Recent events also show that the people will resist any imposition of an unpopular candidate or decision upon them.

The Edo election serves as a clear lesson Makinde must learn from. With a decimated party resulting from the governor’s decision to impose his candidate by all means, the PDP was already half-defeated even before entering the battle. With its house in turmoil, it was easily crushed by the opposition, whether by the will of the people or otherwise. Those who should have stood firm were too disgruntled, disenchanted, and nonchalant to take action, as the party watched the APC welcome thousands of its former loyalists. Makinde must not make the same mistake.

One area where Makinde must focus diligently is zoning and religion.

Oyo State is a multi-religious state, with Christians and Muslims being the majority. It is only fair to create a religious balance this time by handing over to a worthy, well-prepared Muslim who is accepted by the majority. It is hoped that Governor Makinde will take this into consideration.

Lastly, Governor Makinde must not allow himself to be overtaken by favoritism. There should be no favored ‘sons,’ regardless of how strongly he feels about a person’s qualifications. There are always individuals more favored by the party and even more qualified. In simple terms, Makinde must listen to the party if he does not want his legacies erased and to avoid crises within the ranks.

Written by Fatai Adenle.
Adenle writes from Lalupon, Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State.