Birth, Early Life, and Education
Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde was born 25th December 1967 to Pa Olatubosun Makinde and Abigail Makinde of Aigbofa Compound in Oja’ba, Ibadan, Oyo State. Theirs was an average middle-class Christian family. His father was a teacher-turned accountant. He is the third child of the family. Abiodun Makinde was born at Catholic Hospital Oluyoro. He was raised in Ibadan where he began his educational career at St. Paul Primary School but completed his primary education at St Michael Primary School, Yemetu, Ibadan. His secondary education was at Bishop Phillips Academy, Monatan, Ibadan. He also attended Bishop Phillips Academy, Iwo Road Ibadan. In 1985, he gained admission into the University of Lagos (Unilag) where he bagged his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering with honours in 1990.
His passion for public service was ignited during his primary and secondary school days. He had the privilege to be selected to participate in many external academic events and his experiences then gave rise to his passion to serve. While at the University of Lagos, he did his mandatory one year internship (industrial attachment) at Shell Petroleum Development Company in 1990; and upon graduation, proceeded to work full-time for the same company for two years. He is a successful businessman and philanthropist having the spirit of service instilled in him at an early age. He has been involved in sports, community, and church activities from a youthful age.
Makinde trained at Industrial Control Services in Houston, Texas on Safety Shutdown System, and Development of Analytical Competence for Managing Operations at Lagos Business School (now Pan-Atlantic University) between 1998 and 1999. In the year 2000, he trained in automation and in 2002, he studied Fundamentals of Crude Sampling at Jiskoot Auto Control Training Centre, Kent, England. Further, in 2005, he studied Understanding and Solving Complex Business Problems at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA.
During his undergraduate years at the University of Lagos; the young Oluseyi Makinde made several remarkable innovations namely; the conversion of gas measurement devices to meet API 14.3 standard in Nigeria; Design and construction of a portable DC to AC converter (this was a mini project in his third year at the University of Lagos in 1988). In addition, he designed a microprocessor-based DC motor controller as his final year project at the University of Lagos.
Career: Professional and Business
Oluseyi Makinde served the nation as a Corp member (NYSC) with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria, where he was later engaged as a pupil engineer. He served in different capacities, handling and partaking in several key projects between 1990 and 1992. From 1992 to 1997. After gathering requisite and extensive knowledge, he worked at the Eket operations for Rebold International Limited as a Field Engineer where he designed, installed, supervised and commissioned several instrumentation projects. He was so diligent in discharging his duties that he was made the Field Manager in the same company in 1995. He is also a subject matter expert in metering with special bias for Automation and control.
As a successful businessman and philanthropist filled with the spirit of service, Oluseyi Makinde’s Makon Group has contributed in various ways in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry by actively engaging in development of Nigeria local content in the field of engineering of oil and gas facilities. After working for five years (1992 to 1997) with various international oil and gas companies (IOCs) as Engineering Manager, he established his first business enterprise, the Makon Engineering and Technical Services Limited (METS) in 1997. Prior to his becoming Governor, he was the group managing director of Makon Group of Companies.
Makon Group began operations via a parent company Makon Engineering and Technical Services Limited in 1997. Makon Engineering and Technical Services Limited commenced business as an instrument, automation, and control system outfit and have through the years built sound engineering packaged equipment procurement, construction installation maintenance base that has a global competitive edge. With humility as his guiding principle, he has achieved remarkable success, transforming his startup company from humble origins to international prominence. Through determination and vision, he has skillfully grown Makon Group into a multi-million dollar thriving conglomerate, featuring four subsidiaries across Africa (Nigeria and South Africa) and the United States of America.
Governor Seyi is a member of several national and international professional bodies, notably the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Council for Regulations of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Oil and Gas Design Engineers of Nigeria (OGDEN), International Society of Automation (ISA), Institute of Measurement and Control, UK; and American Measurement Institute. He is a seasoned Engineer, and an alumnus of the University of Lagos and Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.
Governor Oluseyi Makinde rose from a humble background against natural adversity and life’s uncertainties to become the founder of Makon Engineering and Technical Services International. As the Group Managing Director he worked with utmost zeal and welcoming spirits to spearhead various meaningful activities to scale the company to a higher apex internationally. He is responsible for the overall direction, growth, corporate governance and international expansion of the company. He is able to achieve a lot because he is a highly talented, eloquent strategist and creative thinker. He is also a professional who brings with him deep insight and extensive management skills across many business areas.
C. Career: Political
Governor Seyi’s education and training prepared him to succeed as a businessman and Group Managing Director of Makon Group Nigeria Limited. It also prepared him for the vagaries of political life. He cut his political teeth with the contest for the Oyo South Senatorial seat in 2007 on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). Though he lost to the People's Democratic Party candidate, Sen. Kamoru Adedibu, he remained undeterred. In 2010, under the People's Democratic Party (PDP), he aspired for the Oyo South 2011 Senatorial seat but lost in the primaries to the incumbent Senator.
He upgraded his ambition in 2014 to offer himself for the Oyo State gubernatorial ticket under the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). This he did in a bid to actualize his vision of transformational governance for Oyo State. In December 2014, upon the conclusion of the party's primary election, he was denied the governorship nomination ticket. Makinde, however, remained true to his ambition and defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), under which platform he contested for the Oyo State 2015 SDP gubernatorial candidate, but came out third with over 50,000 votes.
In September 2017, the Caretaker National Chairman of PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi visited him in Ibadan and following extensive, deep and wide consultations with National leaders, Oyo State leaders and elders of the Social Democratic Party, and cross sections of strategic partners within Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde returned to his former political party, People's Democratic Party (PDP). He maintained that joining the PDP was not for personal gains but for the development of the State by finding lasting solutions to the array of problems facing the State. On September 29, 2018, Makinde emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 general elections in Oyo State, having polled 2772 votes at the primary election that took place at liberty stadium, Oke-Ado in Ibadan.
Governor Seyi Makinde was elected into the Office of the Governor of Oyo State at the 2019 gubernatorial elections for Oyo State which held on March 9, 2019. He polled 515,621 votes in the election, defeating his closest rival, Adebayo Adelabu of the All Progressive Party who polled 357,982 votes. He was sworn in on 29 May 2019 as the 28th executive Governor of Oyo State. He took over from late Senator Abiola Ajimobi after the latter's eight years in office.
At the expiration of his first tenure in office, he was persuaded against his will to run for second term by friends and associates, and indeed, the majority of Oyo State people. They saw in him remarkable virtues capable of motivating enormous goodwill, trust, confidence and team spirit for socio-political accomplishments, as well as societal growth and development. They were convinced of his innate ability to transform the moral fabric, inspire social renewal, and foster political awareness among the people of Oyo State and the nation as a whole. Eventually, he yielded to their persuasion and declared his intention to run for another four years as demanded by the good people of Oyo State due to his ground breaking achievements since his assumption of office in 2019. He made this declaration in a message posted on his social media channels stating, "If the people of Oyo State desire it, we will serve four more years."
He contested in the 2023 general elections for reelection as the governor of Oyo State on March 18, 2023. He won the election, having polled the highest votes to beat his closest rivals, Teslim Folarin of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Adebayo Adelabu of the Accord Party. He was declared the winner and governor-elect for Oyo state on March 19, 2023 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) having met and satisfied every requirement by law.
In his bid to enthrone meritocracy and excellent service in Oyo State and the country at large, Governor Oluseyi Makinde has supported politicians with requisite knowledge and experience to win elective offices so that society will be the better for it. He is a member of a non-governmental organisation whose sole aim is to transform the society through electoral offices. He has always been of the opinion that “the good ones amongst us will lose the moral right to ask questions if politics is left to the old system which has brought us to the stagnancy and abject poverty that permeates all the spheres of our nation.”
With a successful career in the business world, he found a new calling to publicly serve and give back to society. The electorates are yearning for change and want a young, new-breed politician with a big heart, a technocrat with true understanding of the people’s plights to fill the gap. He contested for senatorial seat twice and has become the most sought-after governorship aspirant in Oyo state today by the people irrespective of their political leaning. His entry into the political scene brought another phase to Oyo State’s politics because many technocrats and academics before him were not known to part with their wealth nor interact liberally; but Makinde relates freely and empowers the people with his wealth without any prejudice.
He is committed to making the most of his aptitude on the issues of prudent financial management, social justice, peace building, conflict resolution, community cohesion, and (disaster and risk management). Also, he has an in-depth understanding of the issues affecting the society and seeks the truth in each and every area of societal life, whether in search for peaceful co-existence among communities, capacity building, or relating to his fellow contemporaries, citizens and the general society. He is deep in thought with a positive disposition. Governor Seyi is extremely skilful and tackles various duties and responsibilities of the state religiously.
Governor Makinde being a visionary knows that Oyo State has been underachieving and he cannot turn a blind eye on the issues affecting the people such as poverty, unemployment, lack of electricity, lack of clean water, inability to access health services, shortage of food, portable shelter and lack of other infrastructural development. The question on his mind is how to solve the above problems? However, the interests of the people have been his concern over everything else.
One of the issues to be confronted is poverty. His quest to find a lasting solution to poverty and helping the less privileged ones to move up in life has been his top priority because what affects one affects all. According to him, “if deprived people or most vulnerable are not able to sleep because they are hungry, the well-to-do will also not be able to sleep.” With a successful track record of leadership in cross-functional teams and organisations, Governor Makinde’s passion to serve his people and offer his candidature for the position of Oyo state Governor was driven by the plight of the people that were belittled by poor leadership and mismanagement of state resources.
Governor Makinde has made several efforts to ensure that capable hands with the bureaucratic, technocratic and political experience are supported to win elective offices so that society will be the better for it. No wonder his sustained membership to a non-governmental organisation whose sole aim is to transform the state through electoral offices. He has always been of the opinion that, “the good ones amongst us will lose the moral right to ask questions if politics is left to the old system which has brought us to the stagnancy and abject poverty that permeates all the spheres of our nation.”
With a successful career in the business world; Governor Makinde found a new calling to publicly serve and give back to society. The electorates had yearned for change and desired a young, vibrant, new-breed politician with a large heart, a technocrat with true understanding of the people’s plights to mount the saddle. He contested for the senatorial seat of his zone twice and lost but has become the most sought-after governorship aspirant in Oyo state today irrespective of political leaning of the people.
Partisan political activism did not hold any attraction for him. However, he sincerely admired the political sagacity, socio-political consciousness, social restructuring, growth and development engineered by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Late Chief Bola Ige’s legacy of Free Education in the early age of his youth, partly based on the desire to give back to the community. He is moderate with progressive views as a democrat and has the people’s welfare at heart.
His entrance into the political scene brought another phase and positive passion to politics in Oyo State. This is because many technocrats and academics before him were neither known to part with their wealth nor interact liberally with the populace. Governor Seyi, on the other hand, relates freely and empowers the people of the State with his wealth without prejudice. He is committed to making the most of his aptitude on the issues of prudent financial management, social justice, peace building, conflict resolution, community cohesion, and disaster and risk management.
He has an in-depth understanding of the issues affecting the society and seeks the truth in every area of societal life, whether in search for peaceful co-existence among communities, capacity building, or relating to his contemporaries, citizens and the general public. He indulges in deep thought with a positive disposition and is extremely skilful in religiously tackling various duties of the society.
Governor Seyi Makinde recognizes the numerous challenges facing Oyo State, including widespread poverty, unemployment, inadequate electricity and water supply, limited access to healthcare, food scarcity, and insufficient infrastructure. He's deeply concerned about these issues and constantly seeks solutions to address them, prioritizing the well-being of the people above all else.
In fact, during his State of the State Address, Governor Makinde highlighted his administration's efforts to tackle these challenges head-on. He implemented initiatives like SAfER (Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery), which includes food relief packages, transport subsidies, health insurance, and support for small businesses and farmers. These programs aim to stimulate economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve living standards. By tackling these critical areas, Governor Makinde demonstrates his commitment to transforming Oyo State and improving the lives of its citizens.
To him, there is much more to life than what we know and what we have which can perish in a second. Consequently, he is constantly absorbed in thought about the purpose of life; he feels that there must be a higher purpose for which we have been put here on earth. That higher purpose regularly demands from him an intervention in life’s situations. Governor Makinde has been able to establish that, though power for the sake of it and accompanying perquisites are the driving force that propels politicians into the war to acquire power, his sublime desire in politics is to liberate the masses to be dignified as indigenes of a sovereign country. He, therefore, relentlessly pursues policies and programmes that guarantee fundamental liberties, and basic necessities and comforts of life.
D. Philanthropy
Oluwaseyi Makinde engages in philanthropic activities in order to meet the needs of people and has faithfully and consistently kept his promise to commit his resources both financial and material to touching peoples’ lives in his community and state at large. For instance, he has spent over a decade devoted to assisting families who pass through tough times. He has also touched the lives of many people in most communities of Oyo State through his philanthropic foundation.
Governor Seyi Makinde's selfless character was largely shaped by his father's generosity and philanthropic spirit. This inspiration has driven Makinde to continue giving back to his community through innovative projects across Oyo State, starting from his days at Makon Group. A pivotal moment in his philanthropic journey was in 2000 when he visited his hometown, Ibadan, and alma mater, Bishop Philips Academy. He was met with the stark reality of his former classroom in disrepair and the city's overall state of disarray. Without hesitation, Makinde offered to rebuild the classroom and completed it in record time. This marked the beginning of his numerous philanthropic endeavors throughout Oyo State.
Several other notable examples of Makinde's philanthropy abound. These include, a block of three classrooms for his alma mater, Bishop Philip Academy, in 2001; a well-equipped information and communication technology building; a 5KVA generator to power the school ICT appliances; boreholes in various communities in Oyo State, such as Ansarudeen Mosque, Iseyin LGA, Ojagbo Junction, Ibadan North East, Aigbofa Compound, Oja’ba Ibadan, Ibadan South East, Ogbere near Agugu, Ibadan, Ibadan North East, Ajia Village Ibada, Anko Eruwa in Ibarapa East LGA.
Also, Bishop Oyebode Memorial Primary School, Agugu benefitted from his philanthropy in 2012 with the construction of a block of classrooms; provision of electricity transformers to various communities in Oyo State, at Soka an area in Oluyole LGA, Olode village and Akobo Ojurin Lagelu LGA, Elere Eleshinmeta, Apata, Ibadan Southwest LGA; Idi-orogbo, Igangan Town Hall, Ibarapa North; renovation of Ibadan House, Ibadan North Local Government Area, Ibadan; and provision of relief materials to fire disaster victims in Ibadan; Oyo State in 2013.
Oluwaseyi Makinde has also donated relief materials to some victims of flood and rain storm across Oyo State; constructed the Olatunbosun Makinde Media and Agro Allied Hall in Ajia Village, Ona-Ara Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State, as well as Gas turbine and street lights at Ajia village, Ona-Ara Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State; construction of Gas-powered turbine to generate independent power/electricity at Ajia Town in Ibadan, commissioned on September 17, 2011.
Further, Oluwaseyi Makinde awarded scholarship to outstanding students from numerous secondary schools across Oyo State, particularly Bishop Philip Academy, Ibadan; 1,500 students drawn from across the tertiary institutions in the country have also benefited from his scholarship awards. He procured medical equipment and dispenses medications to the aged; sponsored medical teams from the United States of America to provide free medical procedures in Nigeria; sponsored the construction of website for the Federation of Ibadan Students Union and the construction of programmable logic control (PLC) laboratory for his alma mater, the University of Lagos, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering in 2011.
Others include annual sponsorship of pilgrims to the Holy Lands of Mecca and Jerusalem (Saudi Arabia and Israel respectively); construction of blocks of classrooms at BOMAC Primary School, Oremeji Agugu, Ibadan in 2012; and distribution of teaching and writing materials to pupils and students of primary and secondary schools in Oyo State. in addition, he constructed a Science Laboratory for the PEN Junior School, Iyaganku Ibadan and installed Street Lights at Bayo Oyeleke Street, Ikolaba Ibadan with 10KVA generator; donated one million to University College Hospital Indigent Patients Fund; donated fifty million naira for 2017/2018 Seyi Makinde Bursary Scheme Award to 2,500 tertiary institution students; donated multi-million naira project of e-library to his alma mater.
Furthermore, he sponsored Omituntun Foundation’s Mega Praise Event for Christians and their Annual Ramadan Lecture for Muslims; donated Golf kits to Tiger Golf Club, Odogbo Cantoment, Ibadan; donated five million naira to support LAUTECH; and sponsored Seyi Makinde’s Women’s Support Golf Tournament. He did not stop here, the list is endless. Oluwaseyi Makinde created several jobs for Oyo State indigenes through his youth empowerment programmes initiated in 2006 and, according to him, he remains committed to helping Oyo State’s private sector by the creation of 250,000 jobs. He has made crucial contributions to the social, economic and educational development of Oyo State. In addition, he adopted seven Kids and offered them full scholarship.
E. Personal Attributes
Oluwaseyi Makinde is respected by all due to his transparency and integrity; he stands out for his integrity and lack controversy or negative associations. His reputation transcends tribal division, earning him respect and admiration across various communities. He is naturally pleasant and warm, always polite and considerate, attentive to all, irrespective of their age or status, and often talks to both young and elderly in a respectful manner.
Makinde is a focused man of few words and his humility is exemplary. He is truthful, keeps his promises and his presence can be felt within an instant. He takes good care of all around him, including his followers and he is neither cruel nor aggressive no matter the circumstance.
As electorates are yearning for a change in Oyo state, they desire a new-breed politician with a big heart that truly understands their plight, whose attributes can be noticed as in Engr. Seyi Makinde. He is a role model for the youths and has been consistent in his humanitarian services, supporting the youths and elderly as he wants everybody to enjoy maximum comfort. Oluwaseyi Makinde is committed to bridging the gap between the poor and the rich by investing in infrastructural development within his community and the state at large. He lives in Ibadan, Oyo State and is married with three children.
CALL TO LEADERSHIP
A. A Divine Design
Leadership is basically the process of guiding and influencing others towards a common vision and goal. It entails inspiring and motivating ones team; encouraging collaboration; and making sound decisions that accomplish goals. A true leader is expected to set direction; motivate and inspire; foster innovations and strong relationships with individuals and teams alike; and ensure that full potentials are attained. Effective leadership inspires, motivates and guides a people towards common goals. On the other hand, governance ensures that systems and institutions operate fairly, transparently, and in the best interests of the people. Together, leaders and the led play a pivotal role in fostering a flourishing society.
Good leadership has the potential to trigger a person’s will to perform, and transform lukewarm desires for achievements to passions for accomplishments. According to biblical teachings, leadership originated from God at creation, when He entrusted humans with stewardship over the earth and its creatures. Subsequently, God presented to man His desired leadership qualities. Thus, God said, “Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people” (Isaiah 55:4).
Shepherding is indeed the spiritual responsibility of leaders. From the foregoing, I am convinced that, like Jesus Christ, Governor Makinde came so that the people of Oyo State might have full and abundant life. Leaders should be acquainted with the joys, sorrows, successes, failures, wounds, hurts and needs of their people. The key to leadership is knowledge of the people so that you can care for them effectively.
To be the people’s leader there must be an intensely personal dimension and identification. God in His infinite wisdom and gracious goodness endowed man with all honour, ability, skill, and personal traits. Therefore, a leader requires God’s supernatural enablement, power and wisdom, as well as obedience to God. Through God’s vestments, Governor Makinde has exhibited uncanny ability to influence others through self-awareness and communication which transmit values and create better understanding amongst team members. In his relationships, he shows clear direction and expectations while placing the needs and desires of his team at priority. In an age when symbolic acts help us make sense of the world, leaders have to show the way to the people through symbolic acts of leadership such as transmission of messages and dialogue. As High Chief Ali explained, “In the last five years, one quality that I know to have played out in his administration of the state is his ability to connect to his people emotionally and physically so as to be able to influence them at all times through integrity, compassion and determination. His bias for action has kept him above freeze in times of uncertainty or when a decision has to be taken. He has considerably and significantly made courageous decisions and took actions for which he held himself accountable.”
Leadership is a social process. It is about a group of people working collectively to achieve results. It is believed that good leaders are made, not born and are moulded through experience. Leadership through politics for Governor Seyi Makinde has not been an attractive phenomenon. However, it began to hold a persuasive inducement for him in the face of the phenomenon of arrested development in his state and Nigeria as a whole. Within Oyo State and the country at large, he saw social, economic and political rot everywhere, the decay of the society. Wherever he went to, he came face to face with horrific levels of corruption, the transience of the collective moral force, and the death of vision, the alienation of the people, and the loss of values. Life became mere imaginative conception rather than a true representation and expectation.
Governor Oluseyi Makinde has exhibited certain leadership traits that distinguish him as a meticulously transformative leader. His humility and respect for others, even subordinates, are legendary and that is why he has been able to create a culture of effectiveness, and effortlessly ease tensions and conflict, fostering trust, and always showing associates, contemporaries, staffers, friends etc that he truly values their perspectives and making an effort to build belongingness amongst them.
His compassion as well as his capacity to dispense equity, achieve diversity and inclusiveness are unrivalled. In this regard, he has been able to motivate others and earn their commitment towards the attainment of his vision and drive priorities. By the use of effective communication, both at his private business and in government, his accomplishments are testimonial to his communication skills which are apparent in the various admirable ways he relates with people from different backgrounds, roles, levels, and locations.
One of the traits that have driven effectiveness in his endeavours, especially with a variety of colleagues of different social identities, locations, roles, and experiences is compassion. The world has become more complex but interconnected, and as a good leader, he has spanned boundaries and learned to work across various types of divides, organisations and groups. He is one leader who values and readily embraces collaboration, whether within the government or cross-cultural and ethnic boundaries which endear him to people across the country.
Governor Makinde is a man of integrity. In his actions and relationships, he conspicuously displays the trait of integrity which evidently inspires people. It is an attribute that has engraved in him consistency, honesty, morality, and trustworthiness. In his political career, Governor Makinde has shown remarkable resilience. This is one of the traits that took him to the political height he occupies today. Without his devout religious background, he would have been discouraged and deterred by the initial setback as he ventured into politics. Fortunately, he has in abundance the emotional strength to quickly respond and adapt to challenges.
Endued with the uplifting emotional trait of gratitude, he easily relieves himself of any indebtedness after receiving something of value. It is no surprise that he frequently expresses gratitude to God for His infinite and inexhaustible grace and mercy. This trait magnifies another noble character in him – contentment. God enjoins us to learn to be content in any situation in acknowledging that God is in control and has purpose for everything, especially because He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or imagine (Philippians 4:11 – 12; Ephesians 3:20).
Governor Makinde relies on contentment to achieve peace of mind, enhance his emotional wellbeing, reduce stress and facilitate growth and self improvement. It is needful to state that his being content does not mean he does not desire more. Rather, he remains thankful for what God has done for him while he patiently and eagerly awaits other experiences, which could be uplifting and positive or challenging and negative, that will come his way. He possesses a deep understanding of human nature, recognizing the inherent need for connection, interaction, and positive impact on others. He emphasizes that true fulfillment comes from embracing our spiritual essence, saying, 'We are spiritual beings having human experiences.' By acknowledging and honoring the spirit within each person we meet, he believes we can transform our daily lives, revolutionize our relationships, and create a more harmonious world.
As a leader who is socially aware and a keen observer of others in social situations, with the ability to understand others, he knows what to say and what actions to take to positively influence others. He knows how to make positive impressions of others and is acquainted with the capacity to put others at ease, establish rapport, get others to like him and communicate in ways that will yield positive result. Over the years, he became adept in prioritizing people, supporting them, interacting with them kindly, helping them when in need, and never breaking their trust. With good networking skills, he has been able to connect with diverse groups and individuals in sincere and forthright manner which his associates, partners and staff perceive as openness, honesty and authenticity, especially because he is neither manipulative in decisions and actions nor harbours hidden motives. His genuine interest in others compels them to trust him.
My relationship with Governor Makinde has brought my attention to the intriguing connection between leadership and politics. It is indeed fascinating to explore how leadership and politics intersect, considering that both involve influencing people. The key difference lies in the intentions and methods used to wield that influence. Effective leaders like Governor Makinde prioritize integrity, transparency, and accountability, which foster trust among their constituents. His commitment to doing what is right, even when difficult, is evident in his speeches and actions. This approach earns him respect and admiration, rather than being perceived as "political" or self-serving.
By embracing these principles, Governor Makinde demonstrates that leadership can be both effective and ethical. His focus on integrity, rather than on self-interest, has been instrumental to the trust he has built over the years with the people of Oyo State. As High Chief Odefa suggests, deconstructing Governor Makinde's approach can provide valuable insights for political analysts and leaders alike. By examining his leadership style and policies, we can better understand how to balance the complexities of politics with the need for effective, integrity-driven leadership.
Political leaders in Nigeria are often perceived to be self-serving, making decisions which benefit themselves, their relatives or their close groups. It is often difficult to understand and/or accept why certain decisions are made by political leaders, especially where they seem to be non-beneficial to the generality of the populace, or only aiding a minority. The only area where we can have any real influence when it comes to selecting leaders is in governments where we are given the opportunities to vote and the votes are allowed to count. Even then the world seems to be littered with leaders who are focused on self interest, or only on the interests of a minority.
There is a saying that God created man in his own image, this also applies to leaders. Leaders want people who are just like themselves in key leadership positions; people who will support their views and make the same type of decisions, in order to maintain the status quo. Governor Makinde, on the contrary, has been an exception in this regard. He completely separates politics from leadership. His policies and programmes are enunciated with genuine desire to sincerely and honestly impact the generality of the people.
The axiom, the quality and enduring nature of any relationship will make or break the leadership, is particularly true in leadership, but especially so in politics. How much to be invested in relationships is a crucial decision in life; it can be equated to depositing money in the bank. The more one invests, the greater the returns, and over time it compounds in favor of the investor. In contrast, if one relationally makes more withdrawals than contributions over time, the people led will not want to collaborate with the investor because the returns will keep depleting.
Governor Makinde is naturally good with people. He treats people with respect, and demonstrates value to them by expressing appreciation that often generously encourages the people. He is not fastidious, and grants grace by giving the benefit of the doubt. This quality has enabled him to look for the best in every person as he believes that there is something special within every person. Practical kindness is an essential natural trait that he possesses in abundance. Whereas some leaders tend to focus on tough-minded decision-making, unwholesome strategies, and bold vision, he prefers the crucial human quality such as kindness that allows trust, connection, and genuine exchange to take place. Those close to him have always spoken of his genuine humility, the desire to serve others, and personal contentment as consequential elements of kindness that bring peace and joy into pressure-filled situations.
His humility is a compelling attribute that gives him the grace, not just to hear when people talk but to actually listen. Listening is one of the characteristics in the nature of human interaction that endear him to people. The speed and variance of culture, social media, and lack of connection in general has hurt the ability, even desire, to listen entirely and wholeheartedly. As a result, he focuses entirely on the persons he is interfacing with, ensuring that they perceive that their situations are receiving attention. Similarly, his responses usually reflect his understanding, value, respect, and love.
Governor Makinde’s generous spirit is both exceptionally remarkable and infectious. This is why the entire State is pulsating acclamations of his quality leadership. His disposition to give rather than hold back is convincing and inviting. His generosity abounds in financial dispense and is administered in offering of time, words of affirmation and encouragement, sharing ideas, helping to solve one problem or another, and demonstrating love. Most often, with the quantum of stress-prone duties and responsibilities as well as activities, there is the likelihood to forget to show that you care when one is under pressure and have so much to do, but this not so for Governor Seyi Makinde. John Maxwell explains that people do not care how much they know till they understand the extent to which others care. Governor Makinde, however, prays that God should increase his empathy, compassion, and general desire for others to thrive.
A. Devine Design
Everything on earth is the result of the vision of God for humanity. Human beings are visionary beings because God made man in His image. As written in Psalm 139:16, all our members were fashioned according to God’s wisdom, vision of what we shall be, and divine model of our purpose. Vision speaks of the future, transforming what we dream, what we have in mind about the future. As a result of Governor Seyi’s trust in God, he earnestly always looked unto God with a desire to reflect the glory of God. His conviction in the biblical fact that unless God builds the house, they that build labour in vain (Psalm 127:1) eggs him on. For him, God created us to dream and to plan but we must always bear in mind that a man’s heart plans his way but God directs his steps as Proverbs 16:9 explains.
In order to accomplish things, one must have a vision. We need a vision before we can translate our ambition into a concrete, well-defined goal and destination. Thus, Governor Makinde’s vision was based on God-centered core values harmonious with his mission which is worthy of his wholehearted and energetic pursuit. He did not set out to become a politician, much more a governor of a state. He was quite satisfied with his career as an engineer and director of his private business – Makon Engineering and Technical Services Limited.
As a thriving business entity, politics did not cross his mind initially until the burden of intervention to uplift the people of Oyo State became unavoidable. As an observer of the socio-political environment, he felt unsatisfied and disappointed at the reign of arbitrariness all over the country. Social progress was retarded as social change, progress and development were used and interpreted to suit the selfish interests of the political actors who diverted attention from real issues. On the political landscape, the burning social problems of the State and the welfare of the people were trampled upon. The course of change was distorted while reactionary policies and actions were justified to suit personal interests. He therefore felt that he could make a difference that would impact the lives of the people very positively. It is believed that man, his views and behaviour are a result of the influence of social environment. For him, knowledge of the objective necessity and its employment in the interest of man constitute human freedom.
Consequently, he began to ruminate on the idea of joining politics as a vehicle to effect the required change in the society. Unfortunately, the political environment in Nigeria is curiously infested with aberrant. Nigerian politicians suffer from inefficiency, dishonesty, squandermania, hooliganism, greed, selfishness, idiocy, avarice, treachery, and heartless exploitation of the people. His background as a devout Christian from a deep-rooted Christian family became a numbing dissuasion as his larger family members did not nurse the conviction that a Christian should go into politics. Basically, his family did not encourage him to join politics due to their belief that Nigerian politicians were ungodly. In fact, his two mothers, Mama Akure and Mama Ibadan, doubted the genuineness of his desire, vision and ambition. One day, they called him late in the night and told him in Akure and Ibadan dialects that should politicians give him anything, he should decline it. They said this because of their belief that no godly person is in politics.
However, he was convinced that a godly person could a good politician because he strongly believed that holding political positions was not enough to make a good Christian depart from the ways of God. Consequently, he made sure that the church was fully involved in his election processes. On that note, it is pertinent to state that no godfather influenced his victory. In this regard, he is a testimony of an individual in Nigeria whose entrance into politics was divinely ordained by the Almighty.
B. The Vision
As a very close observer, I can vouch that Governor Makinde has sterling qualities made manifest in his generous love for all who come across him. Love, according to him, is a permanent well-up of concern for fellow human beings, as well as a feeling and a wish for only the best in terms of benefits to others. In essence, caring for others is not just a moral obligation but an intrinsic desire that defines us as humans. Caring means being there for others, offering listening ears, helping hands, or a comforting presence. More so, it is in caring for others that we find our true purpose and worth. Also, the most satisfying thing in life is to live our lives for others and to be able to give a large part of ourselves to others.
Certain accompaniments go with love: a pure heart (which is where love is seated, and from where it takes its rise to other hearts); a good conscience (in which we must exercise ourselves daily, that we may not only get it, but that we may keep it); and faith unfeigned (this is love without dissimulation, because faith that works by it must be of like nature – genuine and sincere).
The leader – Governor Makinde – was not oblivious of the fact that the Lord reserves harsh words and judgment for leaders who hurt people instead of caring for them. Jeremiah 22: 3 commands, “be fair-minded, do what is right, help those in need … quit your evil deeds, protect their rights, stop murdering the innocent.” Adherence or failure to obey this command has benefits and repercussions spelled out in the same book of Jeremiah 22: 4 and 5, “If you do these, I will deliver the nation and give kings to sit on the throne and there shall be prosperity for all. But if you refuse, I will make the palace desolate.”
Since human essence is love, the first major qualification for leadership must be love which evolves in caring for all humanity, plants and animals, and ultimately, oneself because no one can export care and charity without receiving them in greater measure. They invariably manifest in a noble cause of working to raise the living standard of the people. These qualities evince the character of simplicity, humility and transformational power. Simplicity always yields greatness and influence; and with simplicity, there is always humility which arises from the knowledge that humans are mere players in the universe bequeathed to us by God. This noble nature has endowed Governor Makinde with moral influence as a weapon. He has achieved national reputation which is a conviction his influence inspires. He always deploys to good effect his moral influence which, sometimes, results in embarrassment to his colleagues. He shows strength of character, imagination and flair as he relates with all manner of people.
It is based on the foregoing foundation that he developed the vision and mission that charted a path for him in the political arena. The Bible, in Proverbs chapter 29: 18 says that without vision, the people perish. Vision represents the outgrowth of one’s values and mission. By implication, vision produces value-based mission guided by goal-oriented behaviors. His personal quality abundantly displays conspicuously and significantly one of the major secrets of his leadership – charisma. His humility and simplicity bear out his charisma, which in turn substantiate his caring nature.
Governor Makinde believes that change begins from within. His vision vividly brought out the mission in his leadership, which has given him a meaningful purpose. Since human beings are crowned with glory and honour, made a little lower than the angels but next to them according to Psalm 8:3 – 5, man should be a champion of change. With this knowledge, he acquired the tremendous personal power of choice and decision that God bequeathed to him as a birthright. That is why he has been capable of making enormous, dramatic, and dynamic differences in Oyo State. This is the drive that gave him courage to push for the actualization of his vision.
The vision drew a roadmap for success. With the invisible he set out to accomplish the impossible, notwithstanding the gargantuan difficulties. The concrete vision created a forward pull for him. With the vision, he infected other people with desire. The vision became contagious and together he drew the people of Oyo State along into the future with new determination and vigour. He became diligent, indefatigable, and steadfast. These produced a buoyant and breathtaking journey into politics to make a glittering difference in the lives of the people.
Despite the overwhelming odds against him, he sought the ticket of his party, PDP for the governorship of the State on the strength of his faith in God. The magnitude of the opposition was not lost him but he was not daunted. His conviction in the ability of God to fight for him kept his hope alive and he held his peace. He relied on subsisting covenant with God who strengthened his resolve for God’s word distinctly reverberating that the swiftest person does not always win the race or the strongest man the battle. If nothing else, he was certain that God is a respecter of covenants, whether with him or among men.
He comes through as a unique statesman who sees beyond mere political expediency and short term considerations. He understands that the future of Oyo State is closely linked to that of humanity, and that an unjust system which perpetuated the subordination of the down trodden is not only criminal but a threat to the future of humanity as a whole. As a politician, he carries profound empathy for the worries, needs and aspirations of the people. He is not only an absorbed altruist, but unlike his contemporaries, he has a vision of a state which has settled accounts with past exploitation and oppression.
C. The Courage
Governor Oluseyi Makinde’s entry into politics was induced by courage that could have come only from a man of faith in the omnipotent power of God. In all his endeavours since I met him, I have observed that he is ever ready and willing to face situations irrespective of the possibility of encountering pain or danger, negative or positive outcome. His moral and mental strength to venture, persevere, overcome fear of difficulty are significantly bright and transcendental for some of us his close associates, it has not been easy explaining his ability to make good choices in the face of obstacles and fear for us bystanders. Courage is one trait in him that made it possible for him and staff alike, both in the government house and his company, to take bold actions that move things in the right direction.
This spirit perfectly played out when he took the decision to foray into politics. The prime opposition came from his mother, supported by other family members but he was not deterred, especially because of his conviction through faith that the hand of God was in the project. His bold and confident spirit gave him the fillip to go ahead. God, in the Bible commands us to fear not, to be of good cheer, and to have courage in life, for the Lord is with you; He will never leave nor forsake us. In John 14: 27 God assures: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid. With a mindset of courage strengthened by faith in God’s grace, covenant and omnipotence, he has never wavered.”
In 2007, when he contested for the Oyo South Senatorial seat on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and lost to the People's Democratic Party candidate, Kamoru Adedibu, his unquenchable faith in the ability of God to keep His covenant, encouraged him to remain undeterred. When the next election cycle began in 2010, he again picked up the gauntlet in aspiration for the Oyo South 2011 Senatorial seat but this time on the platform of the People's Democratic Party, PDP. He lost the primary election to the incumbent Senator representing Oyo South. It became glaring that the devil, in his nature, would oppose anything and everything that has the endorsement of God whose sovereignty he rebelled against. God, however, enjoined His children to remain steadfast … bearing in mind that everything works together for good unto them that love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8 28 – 30).
With the strength and courage endowed him by the word of God, he upgraded his ambition in 2014 in the belief that God expected him to go for a top notch position, the Governorship of Oyo State. Therefore, in 2015 he obtained nomination forms for governorship ticket on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). In the primary election that took place in December 2014, he was denied the governorship nomination ticket but he, however, remained true to his ambition and defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), on which platform he contested for the 2015 governorship candidate, but came out third.
As he took the decision to elevate his ambition to the gubernatorial rank in September 2017, it was obvious that the small still voice of God spoke from heaven. As he spoke to various groups of Oyo people, he maintained that joining the race was not for personal gains but for the development of the State by finding lasting solutions to the array of problems facing the State. On 29th September 2018, he emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 general elections for Oyo State. Subsequently, he defeated his closest rival, Adebayo Adelabu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), during the General elections and was sworn in as the 28th Executive Governor of Oyo State.
Governor Oluseyi Makinde’s election was one of the most delightfully amazing choices for the people of Oyo State. Applause was reasonably robust and feverish. He glows with radiant energy and arouses strong emotions, induces respect, always caught the attention and adoration by the ordinary people because he really cares. His government introduced egalitarianism for the foundation of a healthy and strong democracy that offered the people their basic political and economic expectations.
