In Nigerian politics, it has become a tradition to assess the first 100 days in office of a new government, or if one prefers, administration. Those who started this culture cannot be identified immediately now though.
The main pre-occupation and focus here is Oyo State, the pacesetter state and Governor Seyi Makinde and his administration which came on board on May 29, this year, exactly a hundred days old on Thursday, September 5.
To rate this government actually is not that simple because, for any new organization and government – it needs to get to its feet, it has to have a period of adjustment to the “strange” atmosphere it has found itself in.
Having said that, one would not be fair if the judgement is that the administration of the affairs of the state has been in a comatose condition since Governor Seyi Makinde resumed office as the number one man at the Agodi Government Secretariat.
This is especially so because his traducers had announced that he is a political neophyte, sheer opportunist, mainly a businessman who does not know the difference between head or tail about government business and is expected to muddle things up eventually.
It is a fact known to all that often times that disruption of peace during the tenures of several administrations before now has almost, always been caused by the transport Union, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) – although, the Union has in the past been employed as a tool to intimidate political opponents, cow the citizens…
Its reign of terror and wanton destruction of lives and property cannot be estimated. Then, the slogan was, “he who controls the NURTW controls the state”. Hence, its proscription by the Governor Seyi Makinde-led government has turned out to be a breath of fresh air.
On other security issues such as kidnappings, ritual killings, banditry and destruction of farm produce by supposed Fulani herdsmen, the Governor and his administration has fully engaged all stakeholders in stemming the tide. Makinde has succeeded in calming all frayed nerves and his grand submission at the Security Summit organized by the Inspector – General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, held at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan on Monday, September 2, was brilliant.
Also, assuming duties, Makinde abolished the payment of school fees in Primary and Secondary schools and this has brought relief to both parents and guardians. Most of them have been ravaged by poverty and could barely survive- and this burden taken off their shoulders was well appreciated by them and the government has in the main approved running grants for the schools.
Moreover, Oyo State has always been known to have problems with disposals of wastes.
What Makinde’s government first did was to launch a programme whose thrust was to clear away refuse from the roads and clearing of drainages. Apart from embarking on sensitisation drive, efforts were made to clear debris promptly by the agency in charge of the task and this has started yielding fruitful results.
On the crisis that involves the Olubadan of Ibadan and members of his council who were elevated to the position of Obas along with some Baales which was ratified by the immediate past administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Makinde waded in and ensured that peace reigns.
He engaged in constructive and wide consultations so that the succession system of obaship known worldwide as one that is the most straightforward and done without rancour would not be rubbished.
In addition to this, Makinde fulfilled his promise of payment of salaries promptly. He has been paying up exactly on the 25th of every month.
For pensioners who after many years of meritorious service, are being made to suffer untold hardships because they are owed several backlog of their pensions and gratuities, the coming of Governor Seyi Makinde has given them a new lease of life.
Apart from the directive from the government that deductions from their entitlement should be stopped forthwith, Makinde has given them a fore – taste of his goodwill by paying them part of the money owed. Though, many may consider the gesture as too little, it is yet a laudable move in the right direction.
Although, it maybe early days yet to pass a definite judgement on the Makinde government’s achievements so far, there are some key areas that the administration must expedite action in the remaining years ahead.
As they say health is wealth, this key sector must be adequately given the attention it deserves as the hospitals and health centres in the state are in sorry conditions.
However, the Governor has shown by his body language that he would do something positive about it. His unscheduled visit to one of the state hospitals recently which caught the staff unaware and napping, is a case in point as they now take their jobs serious.
Farm settlements established by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, abandoned inland port, juice canning factory and Independent Power Project, IPP, programme muted by the former administration of Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao – Akala should be revisited.
Added to this is the fact that the roads to the food baskets of the state should be repaired to avoid wastage, prohibitive cost of produce, loss of revenue by farmers.
In addition, the Makinde administration must embark on rapid industrialization of the state, provide gainful employment to idle youths who are always used as canon fodders by desperate politicians during elections and take abandoned kids off the roads, rehabilitate them and may establish education and trading centres for them at strategic spots in order to make them useful to themselves and the society at large.
Township roads should also be given prompt attention and maintenance through OYSROMA.
It is how well the current administration in the state handles these and other issues that will determine its rating in the eyes of the people in the next three and a half years.
Packaged by Ojo Peter
