Relationship management is one of the most critical aspects of political leadership to properly influence governance, public perception, and policy outcomes. This is why it is often said that politics, while a game of numbers, is also essentially of interests.
This is also the reason why it is commonly seen as practiced within the Nigerian political landscape that two different politicians or political parties with absolutely opposing ideology and philosophy, if any, can easily enter into a political marriage either by alliance, coalition, or amalgamation.
A practical example was evident in 2012 when opposition parties across Nigeria entered into a political marriage ‘amalgamation’ in order to strengthen itself to unseat the then ruling party ahead of the 2015 general elections and alas, it worked, and for the first time in Nigerian electoral history, an opposition party defeated the ruling party and formed government at the centre.
Similarly, in 2019, opposition parties came together into what i’d like to call ‘polygamous political marriage’ called Coalition, in Oyo state in order to unseat the then ruling party, and in the end, it also worked, and the ruling party lost its control of 8 years uninterrupted dominance of the state’s political landscape.
Permit me to digress a little. I called the 2019 coalition pact in Oyo state a ‘polygamous political marriage’ because the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) became the groom with many wives and concubines (other average and small political parties) in order to have a large political family to enjoy bumper harvest after an electoral season back then.
Let’s get back to the real subject however, within the context of Nigerian politics, the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde and the statesmanship of former Governor Ladoja, now High Chief and member of the Olubadan in-Council provides us an intriguing and interesting comparison.
Both leaders have navigated the complexities of governance and relationship dynamics, each leaving distinct marks on the political landscape of Oyo State. Even though Governor Makinde still holds sway as the incumbent Governor with about three more years to complete an 8 years uninterrupted reign, a lot can still be achieved in terms of mending fences since there’s only political differences and nothing personal between them.
As much as the public tends to mostly beam searchlight on the two prominent political figures in the history of Oyo politics, it is sufficed to state that such special attention on them could not be unconnected with their political marriage ‘coalition’ in 2019 and how they have both managed their father-son relationship till date.
We must also understand that in the complex world of politics, relationships between leaders can evolve from admiration and cooperation to disappointment and distrust based on certain factors that are entirely interest based not necessarily personal.
Such is or at least, may be the case between Governor Makinde and former Governor Ladoja. Their journey together through the corridors of power clearly explains a nuanced interplay of loyalty, ambition, and conflicting priorities per time.
Governor Makinde, a very successful businessman turned politician, assumed office in 2019 with a promise of transformative leadership. His approach emphasizes on grassroots engagement by leveraging his background in the organized private sector to drive economic growth, provide adequate security, and infrastructure development.
Makinde’s leadership style is characterized by a direct and hands-on approach to governance, often visible in his proactive stance on issues affecting the state. His administration has prioritized dialogue, direct engagement, and inclusivity to engender collaboration and consensus-building in policymaking couple with his political will to match his words with commensurate action earning him the nickname “Mr Talk and Do” in streets parlance.
While examining their current relationship which many may want to describe as love lost, it is important to understand their political backgrounds in term of relationship management with “political godfatherism” or “benefactor.”
When Ladoja emerged in 2003 as the executive governor of Oyo state, the role of the paramount ruler of Molete politics, Late Chief Lamidi Adedibu could not be overemphasized. In fact, many alluded in some quarters to the fact that the late political warlord of Ibadan singlehandedly installed the Ibadan High Chief as the number one citizen of the state, defeating another former governor, Late Lam Adesina at the poll.
As time went by, former governor Ladoja had to manage what could be described as an overbearing attitude from Chief Adedibu and soon, their father-son relationship strayed. Former governor Ladoja’s refusal to share the state’s commonwealth with few, the late Adedibu, and other political power play at the center led to his illegal impeachment, which was later annulled by the Apex Court, the Supreme Court, and he was afterwards reinstated to complete his term by serving out the remaining eleven months of his four years tenure.
Governor Makinde on the other hand clearly enjoyed the political backing of former governor Ladoja who midwived the birth of the 2019 coalition that produced him (Makinde) as the consensus candidate from all the major opposition candidates. A last minute strategic move many would call the game changer which nobody saw coming in the entire political build up to the 2019 guber election dawned on the opposition like a ‘lightning’.
Consequently, an investigation into the pre coalition talks in the room where the likes of four top governorship candidates, Seyi Makinde of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); Senator Femi Lanlehin of Action Democratic Congress (ADC); Sharafadeen Alli of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) announced their alliance to work together, it was coast clearer for the opposition.
And considering the fact that according to a source privy to the coalition talk, that Ladoja was said to have persuaded the trio of Lanlehin, Alli and Ayorinde to jettison their individual ambitions, it is understandable as to why the former governor would wish to have a substantial influence in a controlling stake in the Makinde led government as a key stakeholder knowing fully well that politics isn’t entirely played for the sake of service to the people but the advancement of political interests.
However, the source noted that one of the key factors that worked in governor Makinde’s favor during the coalition talk was his financial muscle which far outweighed all other contenders. The source went further to state that even though other contenders surrendered their individual ambitions, Governor Makinde was singlehandedly responsible for the financial execution of that 2019 governorship poll, at least to a larger extent.
It would therefore means, that underrating Makinde’s political dexterity and sagacity in terms of depth to manage all interests in his government effectively was a total miscalculation. This perception at the early stage of Makinde’s government by some political stakeholders including the former governor may not be unconnected with the fact that Makinde never held any elective office before prior to his 2019 electoral victory leaving the room for assumption that he would be politically naive and as such would be a political puppet easy to control.
But that would be an absolute political miscalculation by anybody to assume. A man who singlehandedly built a successful business empire from scratch ro become a global brand, and became a big fish in one of the most lucrative sectors–Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, where politics, negotiating power, power control, and market dominace are always at the center stage of almost all dealings, such a man should never at any point of political struggle be considered naive or inexperienced.
Ladoja is a great and respected political father to all politicians in Oyo state regardless of individual political affinity. A status he earned as a result of arguably personal sacrifice and not one gifted him, and by political experience and history since his days of NADECO struggle to becoming a senator of the federal Republic in 1993 and subsequently governor of the state in 2003, it is expected that a father will always remain a father regardless of whatever connotation anybody may want to insert into unfolding events in the state to suit certain narratives.
Makinde has shown his absolute respect for the legacies and contributions of the former governor towards the political and democratic evolution in the state by renaming some notable state government assets including a GRA and the legacy project; Ibadan Circular Road after Ladoja. He also accommodated some of Ladoja’s followers in government at all levels. It is therefore important for the public especially the political elites, to in the interest of Oyo state as a whole, be mindful of the role they play in amplifying this political differences between the two leaders because public perception of political leaders often shapes their legacy.
The recent remarks by Governor Makinde about the installation of the Olubadan Designate, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin was received by the public with mixed feelings and greeted with criticism and counter reaction.
While Makinde’s statement was received in some quarters as an innocent expression from a blunt leader who doesn’t mix up his expression deceitfully and based on prevailing circumstance, others have faulted the governor’s remark, and one of such prominent voices is Ladoja, in his remarks while fielding questions from newsmen who in a usual manner stormed his Ondo Street, Bodija residence to felicitate with him on 2024 Eid-el Kabir celebration.
While Makinde in his remarks at the Final Farewell ceremony organized for the late Olubadan, HIM Oba Mahood Lekan Balogun indicated that Oba Olakulehin’s nomination by the Olubadan in-Council has been accepted by him and that Oba Olakulehin would be installed after there’s an improvement in his health status, Ladoja, in his counter remarks was quoted as saying “The Governor might have access to medical records of Olakulehin’s health or send his doctors to access his health or use artificial intelligence to do that.
“I don’t have any problem if the governor refuses to give him staff of office or instrument of office but he is not the one to enthrone him. Olakulehin is an aged man, we didn’t expect him to still be acting like a youth.” This counter reaction has again reignited the conversation around what was perceived as a political feud between Ladoja and Makinde because, just like appropriate communication channels are usually explored by the elders who are in good terms with each other contrary to the present generation with social media, the new turn of events has given a hint to peep into a likely political future as 2027 beckons.
And how they both intend to continue to manage their strayed political relationship as two successful politicians and sons of Ibadanland with regards to the political and traditional institution in the state since both are intertwined, would have immense impact on a new political direction come 2027.