Why Oyo State NLC Needs To Negotiate With Gov. Seyi Makinde, By Sayo Alagbe

THERE are several roads that lead to negotiation table. One of them is the diplomacy itself. As Old King Aito of the ancient Egypt once admonished: “Be Diplomatic. It will help you gain your points”. There is no substitute for result-oriented conversations. History can testify.

Beyond reasonable doubt, it is a matter of recognition and appreciation of a personality or a chieftain who places highest premium on the welfare of the masses, most importantly on Oyo State working class and related salary earners in the State. As the maxim goes: recognition of bravery act, activates more bravery acts. It equally goes in this manner: an expression of bravo, increases the tempo of work and it stimulates more results. What am I driving at?

Without mincing words, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Oluwaseyi Makinde; based on barometer and index of his performance; with benefits of insight and sincere observations cum analysis of his performance in the last four years, honestly, deserves encouragements and accolades; not the scenario that have played out in the past couples of days between Oyo State wing of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), at Oyo State Secretariat and Oyo State Government.

It is quite unfortunate that Oyo State claimant to be Pace-Setter State has been put to test by Oyo State NLC. Sadly, Oyo State NLC has failed to walk the paths of diplomacy which is the hallmark of educated, enlightened and civilized society. It is unfortunate that to throw tantrums at him over a matter that calls for a round table discussions and settlements, gave negative impressions about a state as Pace-Setter.

The recent protest by the state chapter of Nigerian Labour Congress is obvious, imperative and necessary but taking it to the street to demand for their rights as reportedly claimed, is not the best solution nor does it hold prospects. Rather, it is a negative history. History too would not forget.

The labour, based on the insights from opinion, should have thread the path of peace, by booking an appointment with the governor for a round table negotiations and probably discussions. When this approach fails, then, the least could be expected on their paths. It is unwarranted, needless and sounds of more of opposition rather than genuine interests to move the welfare and the glory of Oyo State NLC forward.

There is no need to resort to the uproar and barricaded the the State’s
Secretariat entrance to press home their demands. Two wrongs cannot make a right, if at all Governor Seyi Makinde has wronged them in one way or the other. It has been seen time and time again that in the absence of dialogue, monologue will definitely fill the space. At worse, violence lurks and will emerge.

In retrospect, this is an avoidable situation that has been given the opportunity to cast Oyo State NLC and the Administration of Gov. Makinde in bad light. Pathetic, it is obvious that this should have been prevented primarily due to the spirit of camaraderie that have been established for long between the labour and the governor; as seen at the outset of his First Term in office, till the commencement of his Second Term tenure as the chieftain of Oyo State. Frankly, issues of these nature deserve amicable contexts that would end in peaceful resolution towards the reinforcement of peace, unity and future negotiations.

My public communication and intervention in defence of engineer and Governor Seyi Makinde could be traced to the obvious and undisputable reasons that he is indeed one of the best performing governors in Nigeria, with catalogue of records of achievements, like: public-oriented projects execution and implementation, prompt and regular payment of workers salaries and renumeration, among others. Governor Makinde is probably one of the last of the strong ones.

It is a common sayings that he who asserts must prove. It is beyond flattery that Oyo State is fortunate to be blessed with a refined, peaceful, goal-oriented, progressive element, ebulliently gifted and super-intelligent Governor like Engineer Seyi Makinde – who has been applying his shrewdness and native intelligence to pilot the affairs of the state without a slide into the old patterns of a journey in a circle.

Moreover, the manners he ruled Oyo State, with the fear of God; to a safe haven during his First Term in office extended to his Second Term in office, calls for reflection and appreciation. That’s a mystery on its own. Notably, his second coming, no doubt, deserves our applauds, considering the method with which he tackled the emergence of the dreadful COVID 19; which almost brought the world to its knees. Despite being a victim of the deadly disease himself, he took the bull by the horns and ensured Oyo State remained one of the state in Nigeria whose governor didn’t impose lockdown or curfew, but managed the situation intelligently. Kudos to Gov. Makinde. We should not forget this in hurry.

Remarkable is the fact that he fought with every means at his disposal to peacefully and meaningfully severed tied of joint ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), between Oyo and Osun States to Oyo State owned university; followed by prompt reconstruction and asphaltic overlay of Under-G Road of the university. For ease of transportation and free movement of goods and commodities; he constructed Ogbomoso-lseyin road and several new and deplorable roads across Oyo State.

Similarly, Governor Makinde ensured the payment of backlog of retirement benefits of retirees, introduction and entrenchment of Operation Light-Up Oyo State, turning things around in Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) by maximizing the operational functions through the provision of set of state of art equipment under the midas touched of the egghead , Prince Dotun Oyelade now Commissioner for lnformation and Orientation, introduction offree education in both primary and secondary schools in Oyo State, implementation of 30,000 Naira Minimum Wage, promotion of over 2000 civil servants, conversion of over l000 casual workers to regular service, establishment of alternative security through Àmòtékùn – for protection of lives and properties of people of Oyo State; to mention but a few.

Without exaggeration and fear of being challenged, Oyo State has never had it so bad under the admiration of Governor Seyi Makinde. It has always been success stories all the way! He has lived up to the expectations, oaths and tenets of office as the Executive Governor of Oyo State. The people’s governor has accorded due respect to the traditional institution which comprises of obas and chiefs in the state, by being promptly informed on the running of the affairs of the State.

Before the hen comes home to roost, I have no doubt that Governor Seyi Makinde would perform much more better and will make Oyo State a cynosure of all eyes and a template worthy of emulation if he is allowed to execute his lawful duties in the atmosphere of peace and tranquility, which are the terrain of good governance and administration.

Summarily, l will like to urge Oyo State workers under the aegis of Nigeria Labour Congress Oyo State Chapter to embrace dialogue, by coming to negotiating table with our listening Gov. Seyi Makinde and sustains the cord of master-workers relationship with him as previously experienced. It is always a win-win situation. The cliche echoes here: it is better to jaw- jaw than to war war.

Thank you.
May God bless Oyo State.

Sayo Àlàgbé writes from Ogbomoso, Oyo State.