Seyi Makinde: The Bibliophilic Leader
“He who can read but chooses not to, may eventually not fare better than he who cannot.”
Harvard Professor, Michael Jimenez (PhD) had this to say about avid reading… “As readers, we gain momentum with each book we read. The more we read, the more quickly we can understand their perspectives and where they fit into a conversation they’re having with other authors, and the more informed we are when we use their advice or incorporate their perspectives into our work.”
A Chief Executive Officer is expected to read at least one book every week, totalling no less than fifty two at the end of a calendar year. It is however unfortunate that our nation has consistently been mostly bedeviled with Chief Executive Officers in governance who not only discard the idea of reading but even sometimes discourage it. Don’t take my words for it, just check out the current situation of our perpetually-under-construction National Library in the FCT, Abuja.
As of today, no other serving governor in Nigeria (not even the president), has a book reading list not to talk of sharing same with their constituents every fortnight.
At the 70th birthday celebration and book launch of the media icon, Prince Dotun Oyelade in October 2022, Governor Seyi Makinde bought numerous copies of the book; ‘Dotun Oyelade Reporting: Memoirs of a newshound’ and did not stop from announcing it as his book for the month but further went ahead to mandate members of the Oyo State Executive Council to read and be ready to give a summary at their next meeting…classic GSM!
Keen observers of Governor Seyi Makinde will attest to his penchant for taking notes in his personal jotter during meetings. This might just be one of the secrets of his high level intuition and unusual retentive memory, especially for someone of his social class who meets new people almost every day. His biweekly newsletter carefully summarizes his activities while ensuring he inserts snippets and lessons from his book of the month. In his last newsletter for 2022, Governor Seyi Makinde shared all the books he read in the year, quoting excerpts from some. Suffice to say that subscriptions to the newsletter keeps soaring with each release as it makes for such a delightful reading.
It is therefore not surprising that the amiable governor of Oyo State does not joke with Science and logic in his decision making at all times. This is evident with the giant strides recorded in all the four sectors that the Seyi Makinde administration has devoted attention to, from Education to Security and from the Economy to Health Care delivery. The unprecedented increase in Internally Generated Revenue coupled with numerous developmental projects carefully allotted and connected across all the geopolitical zones in the State attest to the huge benefit of having an avid reader in charge.
As we prepare to march to the polls in February and March, for the citizens, residents and well-wishers of Oyo State, we all can boldly look forward to a more sustainable development as is being preached via the Omituntun 2.0 gospel.
Let’s join hands to return the pride of the West, His Excellency, Governor ‘Seyi Makinde FNSE, D.Sc, as Executive Governor of the Pacesetter State.
E je ka Seyi lekansi!
Oladayo Ogunbowale is the Publicity Director of the ‘Young Appointees for Seyi’s Re-election’ (YASR).
Member: ‘Publicity, Communication & Strategy Committee’ of the Seyi Makinde 2023 Governorship Re-election Campaign Council.
He is also currently Special Assistant on Communication to Governor Seyi Makinde