Popular Indian Singer, Adnan Sami, once said that he does not believe in coincidences, but that he does believe in destiny. I share his view.
Is it a coincidence that Christmas, a day to celebrate Jesus Christ, deemed as God’s greatest gift to mankind, comes a day before the world-renowned Boxing Day, a festival of sharing gifts among loved ones? I doubt it.
And, could it be a coincidence that a child born on Christmas Day grew to become a blessing to the people of Oyo State, Nigeria and even beyond, giving gifts of all manners and forms and spreading happiness to countless homes. No. That’s destiny.
You don’t know the child? Yeah, he is not a child anymore. He is Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde, born in Gbegbekuegbe, Isale Aafa, Yemetu, Ibadan, about 57 years ago. Like Christ, born in the manger, Seyi, who is today known as Governor Seyi Makinde, was born in a lowly estate. That humble beginning, itself, shaped the man, who has become a source of joy to residents of Oyo State in the last five years.
From providing people-centred leadership, implementing policies and programmes that give true happiness to people across all social strata to delivering landmark projects and achievements that will sustain the Pacesetter State into the future, Governor Makinde has been a great gift to his people and has never shown the sign of waning of tiredness in doing good. He continues to be a topic for discussion in good governance and positive leadership across the country.
Today, there is no how you can talk about Christmas without talking about Christ. Same way, you cannot talk about good governance in Nigeria without a mention of GSM, the boy born on Christmas Day. Is it about infrastructure? The governor who delivered the longest roads such as the 65km Moniya-Iseyin Road, the 34km Oyo-Iseyin Road and the 76.7km Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road in only five years cannot but be the centre of discussion. Is it about the repositioning of the Pacesetter State? GSM’s leadership has resulted into the restoration of the Pacesetter State to its height of glory in education and the economy. Is it about security? It cannot be a coincidence that Oyo State on GSM’s watch is one of the most peaceful states in the country and has become an investment and tourism destination.
For five years, Governor Makinde has shown to workers and pensioners that he is God’s gift to them as an empathetic leader. He began with the promise of a prompt payment of salaries and pensions on/or before 25th of every month. He topped that promise up with the payment of 13th salary in December 2019 and five years down the line, the happy times have never ceased. When hardship bit harder, the governor stood as a bulwark for the workforce, declaring the wage award bonus that he has paid to workers and pensioners for over a year even when the Federal Government that owns the idea faltered and failed. And when it was time to talk about the minimum wage, GSM also became a hot topic following his decision to pay N80,000 to the least paid worker, which makes Oyo State the third in the rank of highest paying states.
There is no way you will talk about states making their workforce and pensioners happy without making a reference to Oyo State; that is the import of the good gift that GSM has embodied to the people of Oyo State.
Now, it must be destiny that made the boy born on Christmas Day to reach the top of the political ladder in his state and destiny it must be that this enigma did not just reach the top; but has also been sharing happiness, the stuff that Christmas is known for.
As a wise man said that the only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be, it becomes clear that though Governor Makinde’s birthday was destined, becoming a good gift that thousands of Oyo State residents draw happiness from was a personal decision. Yes. Becoming the face of good governance in Nigeria, building lasting legacies that will make Oyo State to remain relevant into the future and lighting up thousands of homes with policies and programmes that are run with human face were personal decisions made by Governor Makinde, decisions which he often notes, are driven by data, science and logic.
This is not an occasion for an epistle; no, it is not the day to unravel the different decisions that have interplayed to make Oyo State a centre of attraction for others, it is Christmas Day and it is a day to celebrate GSM, God’s gift to Oyo State, who has continued to give in different ways.
Happy birthday, Your Excellency!
. Alao is the Special Assistant (Print Media) to Governor ‘Seyi Makinde
