Makinde: Using Synergism To Oyo’s Full Advantage |By Moses Alao

 OYO is a state in the South-West of Nigeria, with the alias Pacesetter State. OYO is also a street lingua that is commonplace in the South-West of Nigeria. It serves as a warning to individuals or groups on actions and consequences, letting them know that when the chickens come home to roost and there is fallout from their actions or inactions, they would be standing alone to face the music.

While the first OYO was derived from the all-important and historic kingdom established by Alaafin Oranmiyan, the last born of Oduduwa, Yoruba’s famed progenitor, the other OYO means On Your Own.

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OYO, the one for the Pacesetter State, has become well-known all over the world for its rich history of pacesetting achievements in governance, education and other key areas, as experienced during the days of the Western Region Government and for its economic ascendancy and exemplary governance initiatives in recent times under the focused leadership of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde.

Interestingly, OYO, the state, has also become renowned for often being jabbed with the street lingua OYO, especially whenever its governor takes the decision to stand alone and stand out on issues where other states of the federation, and often times, the Federal Government itself, have imbibed the herd mentality.

Governor Makinde has often been criticised for heading on a path away from the national caravan. He has become used to being told OYO by critics. But in the end and that too on every occasion, GSM’s decisions turned out to be the superior decisions and in the best interest of the teeming people of the state.

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This scenario played out many times during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Governor Makinde decisions which were different from the ones taken by the Federal Government and other states with regards to measures put in place to navigate the pandemic.

Interestingly, OYO, the state, has also become renowned for often being jabbed with the street lingua OYO, especially whenever its governor takes the decision to stand alone and stand out on issues where other states of the federation, and often times, the Federal Government itself, have imbibed the herd mentality.

Governor Makinde has often been criticised for heading on a path away from the national caravan. He has become used to being told OYO by critics. But in the end and that too on every occasion, GSM’s decisions turned out to be the superior decisions and in the best interest of the teeming people of the state.

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This scenario played out many times during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Governor Makinde decisions which were different from the ones taken by the Federal Government and other states with regards to measures put in place to navigate the pandemic.

All through his first four years, Governor Makinde was not a stranger to OYO, as every now and then, his critics told him off for choosing to stand apart on national issues. In fact, some even went as far as insinuating that the governor was fighting the Federal Government because he is a member of the opposition party. But the governor, renowned for his courage and will power once he is convinced that his decision would bring the best results for Oyo State, did not allow himself to be bothered by the naysayers’ antics. He marched on and as a reward for his courage and determination not to fear standing alone once it is standing for what is right, the governor was re-elected by the teeming people of Oyo State.

Fast-forward to Omituntun 2.0, Governor Makinde, who had decided at the twilight of the first administration that the next agenda for Oyo State is sustainable development, chose to start off on the strong foot of courage; determination and commitment to what he believed would bring the greater good for Oyo State. The people’s governor had also simply upped the game by embracing the concept of synergism.

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