I was in Manchester speaking at a property talk show for Nigerians in diaspora when I read about the protest on the nomination of Seun Fakorede, a 27-year old nominated as commissioner in Oyo state. The protesters were said to have positioned that Seun is too young and his father is a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
In a country where 93 percent of the population is below 55 years, appointing a 27-year old man to represent about 30.74 percent of people within the age bracket 25 -54 years is not a crime for a state that is forward-thinking. The claim that Seun’s father is an influential member of the opposition party makes the protest a mockery of drama by people who are unwilling to change. Seun Fakorede must have been nominated based on his perceived pedigree and ability to do the job.
I knew little of Seyi Makinde before his election as the Governor of Oyo state. I was attracted to his Linkedin page when he was giving updates about his campaign. What I saw was a riot starter trying to do things in different ways during the campaign exercise and now that he is in office. I’m sure the Oyo people, being the residents of the political capital of the Yoruba nation must have seen the leadership quality of Seyi Makinde before deciding to sack the constituted authority and his party.
The decision of the governor to be the first to publicly declare his assets (N50 billion), and now the nomination of a teenager (Seun is a teen in the context of the age of political appointees in Nigeria) as a potential commissioner is an indicator of a leader going on a journey to creating a transformational legacy if the power of our political structure does not derail the focus.
Appointing a 27-year old Seun is a radical departure from the norms especially in Oyo state where political awareness, alliances, mergers, computations and permutations for election outcome, slots for appointments is likely to be the highest among the states in Nigeria. Seyi Makinde is, therefore, a lion on a mission and no doubt this will add to the political credibility of Oyo state in the history of politics in Nigeria.
To Seun Fakorede, you are another surprise appointee following the appointment of 23 years old Ossai Ovies Success in 2015 by Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta state. Your assignment is more significant since you met the governor via Linkedin. I am sure the governor is exercising his right to pick whosoever he perceives can help him achieve to his objectives.
I know you have been nominated based on a credible record of achievement but being a political office holder is a different game in Nigeria. You are a torchbearer, and the outcome of the Makinde’s experiment – with you as the prime specimen – will go a long to justify the need for a leadership change in our country.
Presently, Nigeria is mainly a country of the youth under the leadership of the people whose time is gone in the evolution of events. We are being led by people who should be advisers and backbenchers while the youth are on the streets hailing and begging for the future they cannot see.
Therefore, this is a clarion call on Seun Fakorede. As a new leader, you will be influenced by the existing paradigms of how things are performed in your ministry. Your focus is to be a leader in the real sense. A leader will adapt, innovate, change and ensure growth in his sphere of control within a limited time. A result-oriented leader focuses on relationships and results. Please focus on outcomes we can show the world that it is not business as usual in your ministry and that the youth of this country you are representing can take the lead. In your action, think of creating a legacy.
A legacy is something you leave in others and not something you leave for them. Your first 90 days in the office should produce a diagnostic parameters to meassure the fundamental impact you will make. With these you will prove the protesters wrong and help in changing the mindset of our political gladiators. Your world and thoughts might be different from those you will be surrounded with but don’t drop the ball and allow the existing system to consume you. You must intentionally lead your team with the aim of increasing your sphere of influence and the elicit the needed support for your vision.
To the leader in the Oyo state’s house of revolution, Governor Oluseyi Abayomi Makinde, you have started a riot of revolution. You have seen something in Seun Fakorede and the need to replicate the qualities that earned Seun’s your endorsement in the youth of your state is non-negotiable. Your state can be compared to Belgium based on population size but not on the scale of the economic activities and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I know you will give your state a unique identity within the next two years if the focus is on the SDGs and the National States Competitive Index where Oyo state’s worst areas for improvement are education, waste management services and corruption.
The starting platform is education with Oyo state is in the middle tier in the WAEC’s table ranking 24th with 19 percent pass rate in 2014 and dropped to 26th position in 2016. I am happy that this was one of the priorities you mentioned in your inaugural speech.
The focus is on creating legacies that will outlive you for the people of your state. No doubt, you have started well. I am sure the power of the electorates is manifesting, and you will manage the stakeholders better unlike the constituted arrogance of your predecessor against the youth, the future of your state. The people of your state cannot wait to start experiencing the Makinde-factor in all their areas of life.
Babs Olugbemi
