Author: The Nation

By Sani Adeiza

In a clime, and at a time when political support, participation and endorsements are highly transactional and commercial in nature, enters a man of tremendous goodwill, impeccable character, profound intellect, proven track records of public service and a people’s man, in the person of Alhaji Murtala Ajaka.

Like a political colossus and a New Sheriff on Kogi’s political firmament, Muri is readily and steadily altering all existing political arrangements and calculations which have so far not favoured the masses since our return to constitutional democracy in 1999. He sees politics as a veritable tool for social re-engineering and development, and not as a means for primitive accumulation of wealth.

Muri, as popularly called by his teeming admirers and supporters, is introducing into Kogi’s political lexicon and body polity, an arrangement that puts power in the hands of the masses, and accords priority attention to the progress and welfare of the citizens. Muri Ajaka, having interacted, learnt and associated with seasoned politicians and technocrats at the national stage, is currently championing and enthroning a pristine political culture that emphasizes the need to deliver the dividends of democracy to citizens regardless of their political leanings, religious beliefs or ideological persuasions.

His modus operandi, in terms of political participation and engagement is a complete departure from what used to be the norm. Muri, given his deep political quotient and a good understanding of Nigeria’s political culture cum configuration, is eminently qualified to offer sound counsels on how best to address the challenges of poverty, deprivation, hunger, unemployment and other social disequilibrium confronting the masses, especially those on the lower rung of the ladder. Like he often says, it is far better to address what is termed a general problem than choosing to address individual issues. This chiefly explains the rationale behind his huge investments in infrastructure, as opposed to giving money to individuals to fund their vanities. Muri’s infrastructure imprints dot all nooks and crannies of his immediate constituency.

There is what the masses call “The Muri electricity”, “The Muri road” and “The Muri borehole”. These are basic infrastructure solely funded and delivered to communities by Muri years ago. Where others seek to hand out peanuts to self-acclaimed political leaders to curry favour or support, Muri prefers to fund community projects that would serve everyone. Muri is the unseen face, unheard voice and unsung philanthropist who has been using his God-given wealth to fix communities, towns and villages which were hitherto cut off from basic infrastructure that make life livable for people. Unlike others, his philanthropic deeds date back to his days of little beginnings. This is one area where he towers higher than other aspirants seeking to govern Kogi state in the November 2023 election. He is easily the most accessible personality among his contemporaries because he dines and wines with everyone, irrespective of class difference.

Muri has since become a household name long before he threw his hat into the political ring. His good and selfless deeds have gone ahead of him to create a place of rest and fulfilment in the minds of his people. The Ajaka-born politician is behind numerous educational grants to hundreds of Kogites who are desirous of furthering their education. Good deeds are like the seeds that we plant that later grow into a tree which provides shelter for everyone, including strangers. Let us be good and do good even when it is not convenient for us.

Alhaji Murtala Ajaka had over the years warmed himself into the hearts of the people through his humble disposition and silent philanthropic gestures. He values and appreciates people; hence his resolve to always travel several kilometers on dilapidated roads just to meet with those in the hinterland or hard-to-reach areas within Kogi state. There is no gainsaying the fact that Muri is unapologetically a loyal, faithful and committed party stalwart who respects party leaders, hierarchies, structures and members, and who also commits his resources to the development and sustenance of the party. Muri believes strongly in obeying constituted authorities.

He is the only Kogi indigene currently serving in the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, yet he doesn’t lord himself over others, especially those in the state chapter of the APC. He sees everyone within the Kogi APC fold as partners in progress, who are working towards linking the state to the centre. Kogi APC couldn’t have delivered the state to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu if party chieftains in the state were not united. All party chieftains, including Muri queued up behind Governor Yahaya Bello to ensure victory for Asiwaju. Muri gave his all in months preceding the just concluded national and states elections. Muri, in projecting the candidacy of Asiwaju, and other APC candidates in the last polls, toured towns, villages and communities where he spoke of the many opportunities that an Asiwaju presidency holds for the state.

As a loyal party man, cultured Igala son and democrat, he hardly drives through Lokoja to his country home in Ajaka without stopping by to pay homage to the youthful and useful governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, in Lugard House. Little wonder he enjoys a healthy and fruitful relationship with his boss. Governor Bello has in Muri, a trusted ally, loyal supporter and a dependable co-traveller. Where other politicians deliberately push themselves forward as party leaders in the state, Muri never fails to align himself with the structure and platform of Governor Bello in all his engagements.

The Muri political project is a project conceived, nurtured and powered by his teeming supporters and admirers who cut across age groups, class and demography. Muri’s journey to the Lugard House is an idea whose time has come.

•Adeiza is a journalist based in Lokoja, Kogi State.

The secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Lanre Sunmi Odesanya, has assured that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will not disappoint Lagosians in his second term.

He said his victory at the recent poll has attested to his popularity and performance as a model administrator and humble public servant.

Odesanya, a lawyer and former member of the House of Assembly, congratulated the governor and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, for their triumph.

He said the duo have done the party and state proud through their fidelity to the implementation of the ‘THEMES’ agenda.

Odesanya said Sanwo-Olu’s victory has affirmed the desire of the people for the continuation of progressive beat in the Centre of Excellence.

He said Lagosians should expect more dividends of democracy in the second term in appreciation of their steady support for the administration.

The secretary thanked voters for keeping faith and renewing their support for the performing governor.

He said:”I offer my thanks to Lagosians who have affirmed the status of our beloved Lagos as a progressive state worthy of pride, through their endorsement for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for another four years.

“I felicitate with our illustrious leader and president-elect, Asiwaju Tinubu, under whose guidance and leadership the feat was achieved. It is gratifying that his primary base is intact and impenetrable, now that he is also the president of all Nigeria.

“In the last four years, the governor of Lagos and his team have worked for the greater glory of Lagos through his various people-oriented programmes across the sectors-education, health,  agriculture, housing, infrastructural development, security and creation of a peaceful climate for harmonious relationship.

“Lagos under the leadership of our dynamic governor, the Incident Commander, went through the turbulent period of Covid-19 and #Endsars and the state survived, through diligent planning and mobilisation of vital human snd material resources to fuel the fire of development.

“Our governor has excelled in fostering inclusion and governed with humility of heart and uncanny fidelity to the ruling party and the state.

“There is synergy between the party and the government on one hand and harmonious working relationship between the executive and legislative arms as partners in progress, and without impairing the principles of separation of powers.

“We are in a position to assure Lagosians that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will build on the achievements of the first term during his second term and guarantee more dividends of democracy for Lagosians.”

By Bayo Osiyemi

Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu has won a second term as governor of the Centre of Excellence.

His return is hinged on certain factors, chief of which is REALISM.

It is real that God is alive and well. Unlike mere mortals who are most times open to negative influences and wrong and hateful judgements, the Almighty God sits in cathedral majesty over the affairs of man: He does not, like mortal men of justice, pronounce the innocent as guilty or robe the incompetent in the garb of the genius.

In almost four years of a nerve-wracking first term as governor, he has come off as an administrator with a genuine fear of God who lives in God and in whom God lives. How do I mean?

Unlike some others in his privileged and authority-infested position, he did not remove or replace officers in the state service system on the account of their belonging to the administration he succeeded, neither did he abandon projects inherited from them.

To him, being appointed by his predecessor is not sufficient reason to have their careers or appointments truncated. He has a large heart that made room for such officers (and there are a few of such people in the system) to cohabit in his space with ease, believing in the Words of the Holy Book that, if one’s ways are pleasing in the sight of God, he will make such person live in peace with his enemies. Sanwo-Olu gave such people an opportunity to rethink their commitment or battle with their conscience till the day of godot.

God gave Sanwo-Olu the grace of heart to tolerate such people, some of who, as things turned out, cuddled their treachery to the point of being enemies within, who secretly schemed with the enemies without, to end his tenure abruptly. But, because Sanwo-Olu is of God, he survived the evil machinations of such internal ingrates.

His largeness and purity of heart made him think, in conformity with commonsense and realism, that government is a continuum and therefore “abandoned projects” should not have a place in his own political lexicon. That is why what could have become abandoned and unsightly projects in the state today are beaconing sites of beauty, the upcoming glittering high rise buildings on the foreshore, inward Ikoyi from the “Babangida Bridge”, otherwise known as Third Mainland Bridge, abandoned by a previous administration, being classic examples of reference.

Sanwoolu governed the state with empathy, such that no bereaved or traumatised home in the state was too unimportant to be touched with his compassion. Or, didn’t the Scripture talk of a gladdening heart and a compassionate soul?

God can never pay gratitude with ingratitude !

Governance is a serious business that does not permit infantile showmanship and comical ineptitude. It demands brilliance, knowledge, experience, hard work and a positive outlook. Sanwoolu has exhibited not a little imagination and dazzling brilliance that are confounding in all of his first term as governor.

Above all, the petite nimble man of inexhaustible energy proved himself uncommon the way he rose above the adversity placed in his way by corvid epidemic that ravaged homes in the city, as well as the ENDSARS protests that have now turned out to be the handiwork of enemies of the state who shamelessly now want to profit from the ruins brought on the state by the mindless destruction that attended the EndSars nonsense. As it is now revealed and unrepudiated, Chinedu Rhodes-Vivour is a pawn in the hands of the grandmasters and the real arcitects of ENDSARS in Lagos, who as the face of the infamous ENDSARS suddenly emerged to want to “conquer” Lagos State. Who does not think that the bones of the true indigenes/architects of the state like first administrator, Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson and first civilian governor Alhaji Lateef Jakande turned in their graves in fierce protest against the ENDSARS protesters who wished to inherit their Labour of love on Lagos State? Again, does God ever reward ingratitude with gratitude? Didnt all the Holy Books admonish us that what you sow, is what you will reap?

Let all the accolades pour in and let’s outdo the comical Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State in dancing heartily to the deserved victory of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu, and the eternal damnation of his unfair and heinous traducers.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has told the people of the state to accept the emergence of Sir. Siminialaye Fubara, as God’s will for Rivers.

Wike said: “Whom God has blessed, no one can curse. There is nothing anyone can do about it. God at this time has said Siminalayi Fubara will be the next governor, and we give God the glory today that, that has happened.

“We won 23 local governments, 23 over 23. It has never happened. Out of the 32 State constituencies, we have won 31,  it is remaining one that they said we will go for bye-election. We are ready and we will take that one”.

The governor spoke shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Fubara as the winner of the 2023 governorship election on Monday night.

Fubara, the PDP candidate polled 302,614 votes to defeat Mr. Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who had 95,274 votes. The Social Democratic Party candidate, Senator Magnus Abe came a distant third with 46,981.

The governor said Rivers by the result had once again reasserted itself as one of the premier strongholds of the PDP in the country.

Wike said despite evil machination of the opposition, the PDP had consistently won all the governorship elections in the state since 2015.

The Rivers State governor, who was visibly joyous by Fubara’s victory, told PDP leaders at the Government House, Port Harcourt that the state would continue to remain pivotal to the successes of the PDP.

He said: “So, we have said to anybody who cares, Rivers State is PDP. When you annoy us, we do another thing. When we wanted to vote for the unity of the country, we showed it. We didn’t do anti party, but we voted for unity of the country and that is what we did for one Nigeria.”

Wike, who dedicated the electoral victories of the PDP in the just concluded general elections to almighty God and the people of Rivers State, commended party stalwarts for remaining steadfast in defence of the State since he assumed office in 2015. 

He said: “Let me thank all of you for the support you have given us, how you stood firm to make sure that we defend what is Rivers State.  In 2015, we did it, in 2019, we did it and in 2023, we have done it again. So, it is not surprising, God has always been with us.”

Wike said he would remain eternally grateful to God because when he first contested for the office of the governor in 2015, his predecessor, Chibuike Amaechi was the incumbent, and was antagonistic to his political aspiration.

The governor while mocking his predecessor for resorting to divisive and disgusting politicking during the electioneering period, said the resounding victory of the PDP had further diminished his political relevance in the state.

He said: “When we came out in 2015, we were not in government. There was a governor (Amaechi) then in 2015. He was the Director-General (DG) of (Muhammadu) Buhari campaign. In 2019, he was a super Minister and was also DG of Buhari campaign. He never gave him (Buhari) 25 percent. 2015, he never gave him 25 percent.

“This is 2023, and they cannot get 25 percent vote in the state; we have also defeated him. You were a super governor, we defeated you; you were a super minister, we defeated you; now, you are a super nobody, we defeated you.”

Wike, however, cautioned PDP members not to be complacent saying that the opposition, which he likened to “enemies” were still prowling around. 

In his acceptance speech, the governor-elect, Fubara, who was accompanied by his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, thanked God for his electoral victory and assured that his administration would consolidated on Governor Wike’s New Rivers Vision.

He said: “We are going to work with everybody who believes in the New Rivers Vision to continue to build better lives, good services, protection of the dignity of every Rivers man and woman, protection of the integrity  of this state in all phases  and to make sure that we continue to defend our party in this state.

“Our vision is simple; it is anchored on the New Rivers Vision. We are to continue, to improve and to develop more on it. I want to thank the leadership of the party and the good people of Rivers State who believed in the New Rivers vision and ensured that the vision is the right vision. On the 18th of March, 2023 they supported us, they came out in their large numbers and voted for the unity and progress of this state.”

Fubara assured the people of Rivers and the leadership of the PDP that his administration would not disappoint them.

He said: “We give God all the glory and our foundation has always been God, and we believe He is going to give us the wisdom to carry this crown, it’s a big one. My principal will be leaving a very big shoe and I will need a lot of stockings so my leg can fit in properly.

“So, I need to start working on it. I need all of you to continue to support us, for us to achieve and maintain the standard that the governor has already laid and established for us.”

Despite cancellation of elections in some polling units across the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission has continued to announce results from such state without the conduct of supplementary elections in such units where elections have been cancelled. Some of the political parties have continued to criticise this, calling for the conduct of supplementary elections in affected areas. But INEC, at a news conference on Sunday said there are closed conditions under which supplementary elections will be conducted in sux areas and one of it must be that, the cancellation was not as a result of the activities of thug and the refusal to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System among others. Apart from the Electoral Act 2022 which guided the conduct of the election, there is the Regulations and Guidelines prepared by the commission in collaboration with the political parties and other stakeholders.

The guidelines recognized the margin of lead which must not be more than the number of registered voters who collected their PVC in areas where elections are cancelled. The guidelines also provide procedures for managing the margin of error in deciding whether supplementary elections wil be conducted or not. The guidelines state in Part III paragraph 100 that  “Where the Commission is unable to deploy to such polling units because of logistic challenges, a date for a supplementary election shall be announced. It also states paragraph Ii to iv that “Where there is wilful obstruction or resistance to the distribution of electoral materials or where there is resistance to the use of the BVAS or any electoral device deployed by the Commission, the affected polling units shall be credited with zero votes during collation and shall not count in the application of the Margin of Lead principle.

“Whenever zero votes are entered or elections are rescheduled, Collation and Returning Officers shall ensure that the number of voters in the affected polling units are accounted for in compiling their results in order to prevent discrepancies in the figures for registered voters in the register of voters and the figures as collated.

“Where the use of the BVAS is discontinued midway into the elections due to sustained malfunction and no replacement is available before 2:30 pm or any extended period for voting approved by the Commission, a time for a supplementary election shall be announced.

“Where the Commission determines that violent disruptions occurred in a substantial number of polling units in a constituency before the announcement of result, a fresh date for election in the affected polling units may be announced by the Commission, provided that further supplementary election may not hold in the case of persistent disruptions and violence”.

Clause 100(vi to viii) also deals with disruption of the process after results have been announced at the polling unit, but before getting to the collation centres. It states that:

 (vi)  Where a violent disruption occurs after announcement of results and ballot papers and result sheets are destroyed, regenerate the affected results from electronically transmitted results, or results from the IReV Portal or duplicate hardcopies, fill new replacement result sheets with the approval of the Resident Electoral Commissioner and proceed with collation of result.

(vii) Where result sheets are snatched or destroyed before they arrive at Collation Centres, regenerate the affected results from electronically transmitted results, or results from the IReV Portal or Duplicate Hardcopies, fill new replacement result sheets with the approval of the Resident Electoral Commissioner and proceed with collation of result.

 (viii)  Where balloting materials are still available or remaining after disruption at any stage of the election, proceed with available materials and conclude that stage of the election. However, where materials are inadequate, a new date will be announced by the Commission to conclude the election.

However, Section 47(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that “Where a smart card reader or any other technological device deployed for accreditation of voters fails to function in any unit and a fresh card reader or technological device is not deployed, the election in that unit shall be cancelled and another election shall be scheduled within 24 hours if the Commission is satisfied that the result of the election in that polling unit will substantially affect the final result of the whole election abs declaration of a winner in the constituency concerned”. Also Section 51(2)(3) states that “where the number of votes cast at an election in any polling unit exceeds  the number of accredited voters in that polling unit, the Presiding Officer shall cancel the result of the election in that pilling unit. Where the results of an election is cancelled in accordance with sub section 2, there shall be no return for the election until another poll has taken place in the affected polling units”.  The law however provide for specific situation where the commission can either make a declaration or order for supplementary election which much be premised on the satisfaction of the commission. It provide in section 51(4) that

“Not withstanding the provisions of subsection 2 and 3, the Commission may, if satisfied that the result of the election will not be substantially be affected by voting in the area where the election is cancelled, direct that a return of the election be made.”

These provisions are made more specific in the Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of the elections. Clause 40, Part ii of the guidelines provides that “Where the total number of votes cast at a Polling Unit exceeds the number of accredited voters at the Polling Unit, the result of the election for that Polling Unit shall be declared null and void, and a report in that regard shall be made to the Collation Officer.

Clauses 56 to 61 deal with specific situations where elections had to be cancelled for one reason or the other and what need to be done by the commission. It states as follows:

Clause  56: Where an election is declared null and void in one or more Polling Units for over voting in line with Clause 39 of these Regulations and Guidelines, another date shall be fixed for supplementary election in the affected Polling Units and returns for the affected constituencies shall not be made until polls are conducted in the affected Polling Units.

Clause 57 Where the total number of voters who collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in the Polling Units where over voting occurred is less than the margin by which the leading candidate is ahead of the second candidate, indicating that the outcome of the election will not be affected by the supplementary election, the Returning Officer shall make a return and a declaration.

Clause 58 Where an election is postponed as a result of serious breach of the peace or natural disasters or other emergencies in line with Section 24 of the Electoral Act 2022, returns for the affected constituencies shall not be made until polls are conducted in the affected Polling Units.

Clause 59. Where an election is postponed as a result of serious breach of the peace or natural disasters or other emergencies in line with Section 24 of the Electoral Act 2022 and it is ascertained that the total number of voters who collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in the Polling Units affected by the postponement is less than the margin by which the leading candidate is ahead of the second candidate in the election, indicating that the result of the election will not be affected by the outcome of polls in the Polling Units affected by the postponement, the Returning Officer shall make a return for the election in the constituency.

Clause 60. Where an election is postponed in one or more Polling Units due to the nonreplacement of faulty BVAS in line with Section 47(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, a new election shall be scheduled within 24 hours and a return for the concerned constituency shall not be made until polls are conducted in the affected Polling Units.

Clause  61 Where an election is postponed in one or more Polling Units due to the nonreplacement of faulty BVAS in line with Section 47(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 and it is ascertained that the total number of voters who collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in the Polling Units affected by the postponement is less than the margin by which the leading candidate is ahead of the second candidate in the election, indicating that the result of the election will not be affected by the outcome of polls in the Polling Units affected by the postponement, the Returning Officer shall make a return for the election in the constituency.

On what to be done regarding the margin of lead and when a supplementary election should be ordered as a result of margin of lead, the guidelines states in clause 62 that “Where the margin of lead between the two leading candidates in an election is NOT in excess of the total number of voters who collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in Polling Units where elections are postponed, voided or not held in line with Sections 24(2 & 3), 47(3) and 51(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Returning Officer shall decline to make a return for the constituency until polls have been conducted in the affected Polling Units and the results collated into the relevant forms for Declaration and Return. This is the Margin of Lead Principle and shall apply wherever necessary in making returns for all elections in accordance with these Regulations and Guidelines”. Clause 67 also states that “Where the margin of lead between the two leading candidates is not in excess of the total number of collected PVCs of the Polling Units where elections were not held or were cancelled in line with Sections 24(2&3), 47(3) and 51(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Returning Officer shall decline to make a return until polls have taken place in the affected Polling Units and the results collated into a new Form EC8D(A) and subsequently recorded into Form EC8E for Declaration and Return”.

With his re-election for a second term after a gruelling campaign and a rout that put his opponents in their place, Governor Seyi Makinde has emerged the new political leader in Oyo State, writes Southwest Bureau Chief BISI OLADELE

Providence, political mastery and destiny have combined to reposition Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as the new political leader in the state.

When he came as a rookie, throwing his hat in the ring as the candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District under the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in 2007, little did he know that he would inherit the political leadership crown from the then top players – Rashidi Ladoja; the late Abiola Ajimobi; and Adebayo Alao-Akala.

Now, the crown has fallen on Makinde in the most popular manner. Two former governors Ajimobi and Alao-Akala had died during his tenure. Similarly, a foremost traditional ruler, who wielded tremendous political influence Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, also joined his ancestors within the period, leaving the terrain for only Ladoja.

But, Ladoja announced his retirement from partisan politics in 2021, with a declaration that his doors were open to politicians from all parties who sought his counsel. The decision projected him as an elder statesman who was a go-to for growing and aspiring politicians for guidance. Governor Makinde, who was the major beneficiary of the coalition which Ladoja coordinated in 2019, continued to defer to him as an elder whose support and advice mattered so well.

But the tide turned two weeks before the March 18 governorship election, when Ladoja reportedly endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Teslim Folarin. He also called on the people of the state to vote for Folarin in the election.

However, Makinde did not just trounce his well-known opponents in other political parties, but also opponents within his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including Ladoja, who earlier projected himself as a non-aligned force. They were roundly defeated across the length and breath of the state to establish Makinde’s supremacy and popularity.  

Hence, for Makinde, his March 18 electoral victory was not just for a second term and defeat of all oppositions, it was a sweet victory over the last man standing above him in the political firmament of Oyo State.

Winning in 31 of the 33 local governments in the state, Makinde polled 563,756 to beat his closest rival, Teslim Folarin of the APC, who scored 256,685 votes. Accord Party candidate Adebayo Adelabu got 38,357 votes.

Makinde’s total votes were up by over 48,135 compared with the 515,621 votes he garnered in 2019. The result, in the era of Bimodal Voter …. (BIVAS) which has reduced election manipulation to the bearest minimum, confirmed the general acceptance of Makinde’s governance approach and mastery of the political game.

Now that he towers above every political gladiator in the state, Makinde has naturally stepped into the shoes of the new Oyo State political leader through acceptance and cooperation across political parties.  

According to him, the incoming administration which is tagged Omituntun 2.0, is a film that will be a lot better, sweeter and more effective when compared to Omituntun 1.0.

He said: “Right now, I am just overwhelmed. I want to thank the good people of Oyo State for the confidence they have reposed in this administration and my ability to lead them. I also want to say thank you to all my friends and colleagues throughout the country who did one thing or the other for us to support this administration.

“For me, I think the reward for hardwork is more work. So, for this second tenure, we will work harder for the people of Oyo State more than we did in the first tenure.

“Like I said on the campaign trail, Omituntun 2.0 is a film that will be a lot better, sweeter and more effective when compared to Omiuntun 1.0.

“So, I want to say thank you to my leaders, elders, our supporters, who have done really well. This victory is dedicated to God and to the good people of Oyo State…

“We thank God and the people of Oyo State because before the elections, there were many wars. The godfathers, powerful and notable people in the state stood up and merged against us but we told them that we do not have any godfather but that we have God the Father and the people of Oyo State. And now everyone can see that a person with God is the majority…

“We actually had 63 percent of the vote and that is unprecedented. It is just the people. They made up their minds to support us and this almost four years, we have listened to them, we did not come across them as all-knowing. We told the people of Oyo State that we may not be right all the time but we committed to be honest with them all the time. I think it’s just an appreciation of that, that gave us all of this support and success.”

By the time Makinde is sworn in for a second term in office, he will be the only living two-term governor in the state, coming after his predecessor the late Abiola Ajimobi, who governed the state under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and APC. With his status, and friendliness with the incoming Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s administration, Makinde’s image will loom large in Oyo State and his influence will be massive.

Reflecting on the situation, the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the PDP, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, said Makinde’s emergence as the new political leader in the state is divine. He explained that the governor departed from past political culture where governors patronised leaders at the expense of the people, pointing out that Makinde rather stood with the people, hence his emergence was smooth and overwhelming for his opponents.

He said: “Governor Makinde’s emergence is God-ordained. When God sends you on an errand, He supports you with all you need to get there. Makinde is a governor that stands by the people. Before now, governors did not want to offend leaders, hence they did their biddings. But Makinde stands by the people, making them happy by providing what makes life better. Some godfathers wanted the election result differently against the wish of the people from who legitimacy is derived. His own style of leadership is collegiate. He listens.”

Arapaja believes that the governor will succeed as the new leader because he always puts the people first.

“We are going to embrace the people. The stakeholders have to be well-managed because politics is a game of number.”

An APC chieftain, Sen . Soji Akanbi, also agrees that Makinde has emerged as the new leader but only of the PDP. He described him as the rave of the moment.

“Yes, he is a new leader because he has retired some politicians; he has emptied them. He is the rave of the moment; he has become the force to reckon with.

“With the two giant parties (PDP and APC), Makinde can only lead the PDP. We in APC will go back to the drawing board and a new leadership will evolve.”

For Makinde, fortune has pressed on him a new leadership role, and a limitless opportunity to earn a level of greatness most people struggle to achieve without success. How he manages the new role will determine if next generations will remember him for good.