Diran Odeyemi’s Open Letter To His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde

Your Excellency,

I will be brief, and go straight to the points, only that I have a lot to say.

This message may appear unsolicited, but it is necessary. In your quiet moments, perhaps alone in your room, I urge you to reflect deeply on your life. This is an important and defining moment.
I am certain you will be grateful to God for all He has done for you. You are among the few who are truly favoured and fortunate.
While joining you in gratitude, I must emphasise the need to honour God through obedience to His teachings and Biblical injunctions.
Here is the difficult truth: constitutionally and inevitably, your two-term tenure will end in 17 months. This is not “half-time” but the final “quarter to go”. It is the right moment to reflect on life in general.
Your Excellency, life as a Governor is not the same as life after office. It is a sharp contrast.
Soon, political associates – despite your aversion to godfatherism – and old friends will begin to assess your time in office and what has been the benefit of their labour.
You may sincerely believe that the citizens of Oyo State in general are your primary concern, yes it is true and I agree, it is commendable.
I however must remind you that politics is the foundation and politicians were the ladder you climbed to step up. They were essential to your rise.
True to your unspoken vow, you have retired many of them without benefit and have surrounded yourself with sycophants, praise?singers and hangers?on who dare not tell you the truth.
Some tolerate your political bravado in the hope that it will eventually fade; others encourage you with empty flattery, typical of the Yoruba saying, “Ma jó l?, mo n w??yín ?”.
Many others you regarded as your loyalists are temporary; you will soon realise that several of them are pretentious. Their loyalty ends with your tenure.
Your Excellency, your tenure will soon end, and you will be referred to as “Ex” a short term for Expired.
Reality will set in, and your vision will become clearer. The English dictum, “the evil that men do lives after them”, will become evident. All this will unfold in a matter of months.
Ironically, the very politicians you currently disregard and disparage- those you have discarded, used and dumped – will be needed again should you wish to climb higher.
They will also be essential in steadying the ladder when you descend. They are not enemies or nonentities; they are major political stakeholders.
Nothing in this world is permanent. Power is temporary. This is why caution is essential in decision?making.
By May 2027, your era will end, and your story will begin. Like many before you who governed the state, you will become part of history.
Authority, command, power – everything – will become “once upon a time”.
Your Excellency, it is time to rebuild relationships with estranged friends, especially those who contributed significantly to your political success.
It is dangerous to ignore their grievances, dare or challenge them. United, they can unmask you. No wise soldier fights too many battles at once or from every direction.
It is not a battle you can win; they all have their own avengers, having collectively worked for your success.
Even if some have offended you through words or actions, vengeance must not be yours. He whose battles God has fought needs no weapon for revenge. It is a grave error to assume the role of God.
Your Excellency, you are not perfect, nor are you a superhuman incapable of offending others or God. In truth, your gentle appearance and calm demeanour contrast sharply with how you are perceived.
Your innocent face has become a metaphor in the state for the saying that one cannot read a man’s mind from his face.
As a matter of facts, your harmless look and mien are the direct opposite of who you are.
The impression that you are sanctimonious like a Jesus disciple is now derogatorily being revered to as dangerous and deceitful. When a man is labelled in such a manner, he must be cautious – not for today alone, but for the future.

You are a man of few words as an introvert, yet, perhaps unintentionally, you deal harshly with those you do not favour or dislike.
These are flaws you may not recognise, even if you look in the mirror a hundred times.
There are numerous examples of individuals – friends and even political family – whom you have sidelined or abandoned. They are spread across every corner of Oyo State.
It is time to change this perception. The narrative must shift for the better. Forgive others and seek forgiveness; it is the essence of life and a vital ingredient for meaningful existence.
There is no need to repeat the reasons for genuine self?assessment. This is the season to change course.
The 1st of January is a symbolic date – traditionally and spiritually regarded as a time to commit to resolutions and make amends wherever necessary.
I have chosen my words carefully to show that I am one of the few realistic professionals in politics who can tell you the truth, regardless of how you receive it.
My late mother often advised me to look away after offering counsel. I will do so now and observe from a distance.
She also taught me that no one can dissuade a person determined to walk into a challenging situation; only at the point of disrepute does such a person remember that wise counsel was once offered freely.
He who is destined for dishonour will not appreciate wisdom, even when clothed in the finest garment.
Likewise, a dog that has lost its sense of direction will ignore the hunter’s whistle. Ultimately, a word is enough for the wise.
I am aware that some of your followers will read my message upside down, misinterpret and misconstrue my genuine concerns by responding negatively.
Should that occur, be assured that I am not moved, neither will I be disturbed. I am accustomed to such reactions; they are the hallmark of sycophants.
They may also attempt to mislead you, urging you to “ignore my message”. That is their way. It is also good.
However, I can assure you that anything short of genuine reconciliation with those whom God used to elevate you will lead to political misfortune.
God condemns repaying good with evil. The Holy Books warn and frowns against it. There is a curse for whoever repays evil with good deeds.
When wise counsel is ignored, the Yoruba call the consequence “Àbám?”. Your Excellency, this is not my wish for you. I pray that God grants you the spirit to make amends where necessary. As stated earlier, the time is now.
This is the moment to rethink and reset your agenda, to repair past damage.
A “battle?to?finish” approach to everyone and everything is an entirely flawed strategy for human relations.
Life is about give and take, forgiveness and reconciliation. Excessive stubbornness or arrogance to the extreme carries consequences – if not now, then soon.
Forgiveness is a divine command. You must recite the Lord’s Prayer and embrace its teachings, especially the phrase: “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us”.
Attendance alone does not make one a believer; a person who does not practise God’s teachings cannot be called a good Christian.
I repeat, as Ifa priests recite divination verses repeatedly to the deaf: power is temporary, life itself is temporary. Those who once played God while in office often end up forgotten after their tenure.
In summary, Your Excellency, do not allow desperate political opportunists to remove your name from the roll-call of good leaders who have governed Oyo State. You are in the spotlight; all eyes are on you.
I am not a spiritualist, nor do I claim divine calling. I am simply a trained journalist who uses the arithmetic of past experiences to project into the future, using today’s events as data.
As I wish you a happy birthday (Abiodun), I also extend my warm wishes to you and your family for a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I entrust you to God, that He may touch your heart to do what is right.
I wish for myself whatever I wish for you. Kó rí fún mi g??g?? bí èrò ?kàn mi sí ?. Amen.

Yours sincerely,

Prince Diran Odeyemi
Former PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary.