Governor Seyi Makinde brought a new dimension to the relationship between politics and the transport unions. He banned the NURTW and created the Oyo State Parks Management System (PMS).
The chairman of the Oyo State Parks Management System is Alhaji Lamidi Mukaila (aka Auxiliary). Auxiliary was a chieftain of the NURTW, but he fell out with others in the union and then Governor Makinde banned the union and made him the chairman of the Parks Management System. Auxiliary is also believed to be a political thug and an enforcer for the Oyo State Government.
Senator Teslim Folarin was a member of the PDP during the battle between Tokyo and Eleweomo, but he is now the APC candidate in the 2023 Oyo State governorship election.
At the Oyo State governorship debate, Teslim Folarin said that the creation of the Parks Management System was political and “even if you want to create such a committee, the person that they appointed as chairman is an ex-convict. What kind of message is the government trying to send by making an ex-convict the leader” ?
Governor Makinde responded to that allegation by saying, “The person that is calling someone an ex-convict, who killed Eleweomo and where’s the file? It is still with me as governor of Oyo State. It is a criminal case, but I don’t want to go into that now”.
Teslim Folarin responded by saying, “Just because you are a governor does not give you the right to make irresponsible allegations.
If you are the governor of a state and you know who killed Eleweomo, then charge him to court. I don’t think a governor should get involved in beer parlour politics”.
Makinde interrupted him and said, “The file is with me”.
Folarin replied, “Oya take it. Take it to court. Why haven’t you taken it? I challenge you”.