Oyo crisis: Wike Meets Makinde, Supports Him

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Oyo state governor Seyi Makinde has received commendation from his counterpart in Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, for providing good leadership in the state. Wike was on a visit to the Pacesetters state, and his admonition came on the crest of the clashes between Fulani herdsmen and some indigenes of the state.

Mixed reactions have trailed Governor Makinde’s handling of the issue after Sunday Adeyemi aka Igboho issued a 7 day ultimatum to Fulani herdsmen to leave the Ibarapa area of the state, and further went to ensure the enforcement of the eviction order, despite the state’s government warned him not to tale law into his hands.

Governor Makinde said the ability of state governors to tackle insecurity has been hampered because they are not in control of the police.

In spite of this, Wike said the Oyo helmsman has shown, through his actions that he meant well for his people judging from the developmental projects he has embarked on since he came to office in 2019, adding that the state and the south west remains crucial to the political development of Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Taiwo Adisa who said the Rivers helmsman was in Ibadan for a South-West Peoples Democratic Party, PDP unity meeting. He urged political leaders in the state to cooperate with the governor for development to take place.

He said: “Well, let me say clearly, there was no stakeholders’ meeting that was held here today. Yes, there ought to have been a stakeholders’ meeting but there are two things that made me come today; Governor Makinde is not only a good friend but also an in-law and I told him I would come to Oyo State.

“Yesterday night, we realized that because of some specific reasons, some persons were not around and we didn’t want to have a half meeting whereby we would need to reconvene. But we had the understanding that it would be necessary to also say hello to those who would come here. It is our culture to respect leaders and that is why we have come to greet them and move on to inspect some of the projects.

“As per the meeting, we had already decided that it would not hold today. We should not be in a hurry. Peace needs a lot of talking to people and you know in politics, you need to talk to people for people to understand. It is not something you think that because you met today and you are meeting tomorrow, everything must be resolved that particular day.

“Politics is about interest and you need to make sure everybody is fully involved. So, let us not be in a hurry. What is important is that South-West PDP, it is our belief and hope that the way they have been is how they will continue to be. The other time, we met with Imo stakeholders and, today, they are almost concluding. So, there is nothing like giving you an ultimatum. No. What is important is that, whether it is one week or one month, it is the peace that is important.”

As part of the visit Governor Wike inspected some projects in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where he commended the state governor for embarking on the construction of the Iwo Road Bus Terminal and other life changing projects across the state.

According to him: “On the performance of Makinde as the only PDP governor in the South-West, you may say I am biased but I can tell you I am not. Coming from the airport, I can see the cleanliness of the environment. For somebody like him who came when things were down in terms of security and other things that are being grappled with, he is up to the task. As a private businessman who is in politics, it may take time. And people should be patient, because it is just one and a half years.

“I can say he is doing well. Look at the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you like it or not, if you remove the whole of last year, how many months will you say he has used in the office? But that is not really an excuse. If the Federal Government is saying that is a problem to them, it should not be a problem for the state government?

“He means well for the people of Oyo State; they should just try and be patient with him and give him more time. You know in Nigeria, everything is politics. The opposition will always want to find something to say even when you mean well for the security of the people. If somebody dies on the road, they will raise the alarm. There is nowhere in the world where you will say insecurity has been totally been subdued.