~ AbdulWaheed Lawal
Governor Seyi Makinde’s recent statements and actions regarding local government autonomy have raised significant concerns among advocates of grassroots development in Oyo State. Despite the Supreme Court’s clear judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments, Governor Makinde has repeatedly insisted that he will not support such autonomy under the current constitutional arrangement, describing the existing system as “fraudulent” and the Supreme Court’s decision as a “distraction” that creates constitutional confusion rather than progress.
Rather than embracing the opportunity to empower local governments and bring governance closer to the people, the governor has set up committees to review the Supreme Court judgment and develop what he calls “home-grown solutions.” He argues that the judgment has created a constitutional gap and insists that the federal government should not dictate to states how to manage their affairs, emphasizing that Oyo State knows what is best for its people.We don’t know when governors become an appellate court over decisions of the supreme court of our land.
The most unfortunate thing is that, this approach has the effect of delaying the direct implementation of local government autonomy and maintaining centralized control at the state level.
Governor Makinde’s position is puzzling, especially as he claims not to be against transparency or the constitutional duties of elected local officials, yet continues to resist the full financial independence of local councils. His administration highlights achievements such as conducting sham local government elections, clearing salary backlogs, and non existent infrastructure improvements, but these do not substitute for the fundamental right of local governments to manage their own resources and affairs as enshrined in the constitution and affirmed by the Supreme Court. It’s a pity we don’t have vibrant, responsive and responsible civil society organisations in Oyo State and SERAP has not deemed it fit to challenge the administrative recklessness and rascality of governor Makinde.
The people of Oyo State deserve local governments that are empowered, accountable, and responsive to their needs. Constitutional restructuring and financial autonomy are intended to foster real development, not to create confusion or undermine state authority. Governor Makinde is urged to demonstrate true statesmanship by working collaboratively with all stakeholders to implement the Supreme Court’s decision in a way that strengthens, rather than weakens, grassroots governance.
Oyo State has the potential to become a model for effective local government administration. The time has come to move beyond rhetoric and delays, and to embrace the spirit and letter of local government autonomy for the benefit of all citizens.
It would be a grave misfortune for Oyo State if, following eight years of governance characterized by escalating debt burdens and a weakened local government system, Governor Makinde is succeeded by a handpicked successor lacking independent vision.
Under Governor Makinde’s administration, the state has incurred substantial debt servicing obligations, with expenditures reaching N20 billion within nine months-an amount that far exceeds allocations to critical sectors such as health and education. Notably, no funds were allocated to hospitals and health centers during the first nine months of 2024, while spending on public education was a mere N2.6 billion compared to N13.9 billion dedicated solely to domestic debt servicing. This fiscal pattern has left essential developmental needs unaddressed, with a significant proportion of households lacking access to adequate sanitation and clean drinking water.
Apart from the rehabilitation of major roads in Ibadan, I challenge Governor Makinde’s media team to provide a comprehensive list of roads rehabilitated in each of the ten local government areas of Oke-Ogun. Evidence on the ground suggests that, outside of Iseyin Local Government-which has only partly benefited-other Oke-Ogun local governments have seen little to no direct road infrastructure development under this administration. It must be emphasized that Oke-Ogun does not begin and end with Iseyin; the region comprises Atisbo, Oorelope, Itesiwaju, Kajola, Irepo, Olorunsogo, Iwajowa, Saki East, and Saki West, all of which are vital to the state’s agricultural output and electoral strength.
Despite being recognized as the food basket of Oyo State and accounting for nearly 40% of the state’s active electorate, Oke-Ogun continues to be marginalized in terms of infrastructural investment and political inclusion. The persistent neglect of these local governments is even more glaring considering that the zone has never produced a governor since 1999, despite its size, economic significance, and the calibre of professionals it boasts.
It is time for the administration to address this imbalance transparently and for political parties to give Oke-Ogun its due recognition in both development and leadership opportunities. Oke-Ogun deserves more than token gestures; it deserves equitable infrastructure and a fair chance at the governorship.
The continuation of such a trajectory under a loyalist successor would likely exacerbate these challenges, further compromising the state’s financial stability and grassroots governance. It is therefore imperative that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presents a credible and progressive candidate for the 2027 governorship election-one committed to fiscal prudence, transparency, and the genuine empowerment of local governments-to restore confidence and promote sustainable development in Oyo State.
_AbdulWaheed Olatunde Lawal is a lawyer and APC Chieftain from Saki-Okeogun._