By: Prof Seun Kolade.
The recent theatre unfolding at the floors of Oyo State House of Assembly threatens to bring a lasting damage to an otherwise impressive legacy of Governor Seyi Makinde. The legislators, clearly under the endorsement, perhaps direct instruction of the governor, are rushing through a bill that aims, in short, to throw away centuries of tradition and history in the service of small-minded political interests: the State legislators have embarked on a piece of legislation that aims, in its wording, to replace sole chairmanship of the traditional council with multiple concurrent chairmen- the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadan, and Soun of Ogbomosho. But first, let’s take a step back and start from the beginning.
By any objective measures, Engineer Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is a transformational governor. Before he was elected governor in 2019, he had never held an elective post. He established his reputation in the corporate world, where he made a strong mark. At the age of 29, he founded Makon Engineering and Technical Services Ltd (METS), later expanding it to Makon Group, a leading oil and gas firm. Makon Group’s growth and his philanthropic scholarships earned him a reputation for business success.
In 2007, Makinde made his political debut contesting the Oyo South senatorial seat on the ANPP ticket but lost the election to Kamorudeen Adedibu. After trying again unsuccessfully for the senatorial seat in 2011, Engr Makinde turned his attention to the governorship seat, which he contested unsuccessfully in 2015. Few therefore gave him a chance in 2019, but the man was on a historic mission. He was elected governor in 2019, and even more impressively, re-elected again in 2023- having defied prominent political godfathers in the process.
His record in governance has been impressive, also. He delivered for the civil servants, time and again, and has set impressive feats on infrastructure. His agrarian reforms have also begun to yield positive fruits. A governor is never in short supply of political opportunists and charlatans, but Seyi Makinde is a smart politician who has surrounded himself with brilliant technocrats, and has effectively deployed them to move his agenda forward- while deftly managing the “professional” politicians around him.
For the people of Oyo, Makinde has achieved some memorable feats. I will highlight one intervention that is etched in the memory of all sons and daughters of Oyo. In the early morning of 5th January 2020, Oyo was woken to the tragic news of fire burning through its main market, Akesan. Before the under-equipped fire service could mount any meaningful intervention at the site, the damage was already done.
In the aftermath of this horrific tragedy, Governor Makinde visited the site, publicly took responsibility, set up an investigative panel and immediately disbursed relief grants to affected traders. Eight months later, on August 12, 2020, he flagged off reconstruction of the N781.7 million ultra-modern complex- funded entirely from state coffers (with no borrowing)- with 520 lock-up shops, 168 open stalls, warehouses, cold rooms, clinic, police post and sanitation facilities. Five months after, by January 2021, the first phase, featuring two blocks with 556 lock-up shops, was completed, and the market was formally commissioned in June 2021. The manner and speed with which the project was completed left a big impression in the minds of many. Even his detractors could not deny. As is often the case, that time of crisis showed the character of the man as a leader with a genuine heart and determined zeal for the people.
Thus, at the time Alaafin Adeyemi departed to be with his ancestors, Governor Seyi Makinde had built a great reserve of goodwill among Oyo people. He was trusted to do justice, however long it took. Oyo citizens fully believed him when he said, repeatedly, that the historic throne of the Alaafin was too important to be doled out to the highest bidder, or to be treated with levity. We saw, during this time, the profile of a man of culture who not only struck all the right tones, but also had the courage of conviction to match it in the service of public good.
Surely, Makinde would not want to degrade or denigrate the traditional institution about which he spoke so highly and vowed to protect in the interest, not only of Oyo state but of the entire Yorubaland? To underline the scale of the risk to which the governor has now exposed himself, a number of citizens, including Makinde’s detractors are already arguing that the governor’s previously hailed courageous act in defense of the integrity of the traditional institution meant nothing in the face of this campaign of historical vandalism and cultural subversion unleashed on the Alaafin throne. Some are even suggesting worse. The amiable governor has handed a fodder for his detractors.
Let’s face the facts. Traditional institutions today is essentially about cultural preservation and historical integrity. It is not about political dominance. The 18th century is long gone. The Alaafin will not lord it over Olubadan or Soun. The role of traditional institutions is vastly different in this 21st century. In effect, there is no incentive to, for example, tackle any perceived grievance of people who have been oppressed by the pre-eminent monarch. Seen in this light, the proposal of concurrent, shared chairmanship is non sequitur. I have addressed this point in more detail in a previous article. There is no nostalgia of empire, and it is even silly to think any traditional ruler is able to enact even a fraction of the political or military power of an 18th century empire. The geographical empire served its purpose, but it now long down and should not induce any fear.
What is clear, and beyond all doubts, is that history matters. And it is there for a reason, the linchpin of our collective identity as a people. The legacy of the Oyo empire, warts and all, is a collective asset of all Yoruba people- not just people of Oyo state. Indeed, not just the Yorubas of Nigeria. To rubbish that legacy is act of epistemic violence. A people without history are nothing. And a people who make up new historical facts on the go are as good as a people without history. Any assault on the throne of Alaafin is, by extension, an (unwitting) assault on the brave people of Ibadan- a people whose heroics- including their decisive intervention at Osogbo in 1840- occupies a special place in the hearts of all Yoruba people. No one can take their place in Yoruba history and folklore. The same applies to Ogbomosho, a great people who have done, and continue to do, great things- spreading their tentacles of industry and excellence beyond the shores of Nigeria. They are all children of Oduduwa, and to them all belong the throne of Alaafin and the collective heritage of the empire their forefathers helped build. What will they gain from denigrating the Alaafin throne?
Now is the time for the current day politicians to step back to this thoughtless act of self-sabotage. It is a stunt of which posterity will not forgive them, but it is not too late to change course.
Professor Seun Kolade is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Digital Transformation at Sheffield Business School