The Stadium; The State and The Drama

The Seyi Makinde regime in Oyo state appears to be a political focus point in the country. While the PDP is using his regime for a facelift, his media arms are doing quite some good PR – work.

Indeed, for anyone who has left Oyo state for a while or that has not been to to the state before, and gets picture of the Adamasigba stadium, the traffic lights and car park at Challenge among other media attractive projects of the government, such would think Ibadan is now the London of Nigeria. 

For what it’s worth, a government can be commended, but not necessarily to extent of praising a fish for swimming, especially if it is a shark that is swimming towards eating up the smaller fishes. 

Politics has been such a shameful art in Nigeria because the people have been psychologically battered for so long that they can be easily swayed by what should be a norm. They have not only being made to fear the government, people also sing their praises where they should rather be vigilant.

A quick assessment of the Seyi Makinde projects concentrated at the media attractive parts of Ibadan leaves some of us with questions. 

As beautiful as the challenge roundabout is portrayed to be, less than 100 meters ‘to and fro’ the roundabout, enroute ring road is dressed with potholes capable of shifting a womb. The road continues till Dugbe with uncountable potholes while each roundabout is rather given a facelift. At least, people have to see the roundabout designs to show that government is working.

A similar road from Dugbe, Cocoa house/Femi Johnson down to Molete is an accident zone. From flooding to dilapidation around Oke Ado, you really do not want to be a victim on some of these roads.

Asipa and Academy roads that link to Akala express are capable of increasing a driver’s blood pressure just by having thoughts of those roads before plying them. They have been bad for years.

We can go on and on, but because Ibadan is such a big place, and given the excuse that the governor can not be everywhere, make it the major reason why praise singers of the governor should not be taken serious at all too. The sufferings of the people are never captured as much as the major projects (the stadium, car parks, traffic and street lights, etc) of the government are repeatedly celebrated in the media.

Some even call him the willingly working governor. Such statement is a rape on the intelligence of the unsuspecting masses. Does it mean that despite winning the people’s votes, a governor should have been begged to do his work?

I have heard of people talk about the government’s plan to power street lights with diesel generators. So much for an engineer in 21st century. As much as it is such an exorbitant expending of funds, it is neither politically nor environmentally sustainable. However, we understand that the diesel suppliers have to cash out, especially if they are friends to the governor. “Na padi padi arrangement.”

The talks of how the rain commissioned the Adamasigba stadium with the government by flooding the pitch and leaking through some parts of the roof is the latest in town. Alas! The bootlickers of the governor have said it is normal because it also happened at some stadia in Europe and other foreign places at sometimes ago. We hope they do not begin to justify it when flood sweeps our houses some day. They might claim that after all, flood sweeps houses in India and America too. 

Some say the governor respects human rights. That sounds good. Meanwhile, about 11 youths are still in the prison in Oyo state over #EndSARS protest of October 2020! Seyi Makinde, as reportedly cheered at the last June 12 protest was an action of unsuspecting youths. In the same light, he rode on the mood that seemed to be a nationwide mood against the APC. Again, this was a time when Ibarapa town had barely recovered from mass massacre that occured at the region, of course, amidst other killings that had rocked the state. 

Again, the people must remember the escapades of the then Fashola of Lagos and how APC used his likes as a facelift for their party. The rest about Fashola is history. 

A truly working government needs no media paparazzi. Impactful governance is self-evidenhe Oyo state government must embark on sustainable projects that are pertinent to the sustenance of the people, especially the most vulnerable poor and laboring masses. These include ensuring affordable public housing, portable water supply, qualitative and affordable health care facilities, portable transportation and public education that competes with the private schools. More importantly too, the state requires provisions that guarantee employments or payment schemes for the teeming unemployed youths amidst the fast rising cost of living in Ibadan and other parts of the state. Without these, the governing style that further enriches the pockets of the rich at the expense of public funds and vulnerable masses remains a deceit.

Gbenga Oloniniran,

Ibadan, Nigeria.