In his inaugural address to the people of Oyo State on June 29, 2019, Engr. Seyi Makinde had declared “I am here as your governor to serve you. I will work tirelessly and take responsibility for the workings of every sector. While I will delegate effectively, the buck will stop with me. I want you to hold me accountable and I will also hold you accountable as we work as partners to bring Oyo State to glory.”
After four and a half years, consisting of his first term in office and six months into his second term, the 56yr old Ibadan-born politician has kept faith with the above declaration with indelible footprints in every sector and across Oyo state.
So much was his popularity in his first action-packed tenure that a party leader and a key member of his first term cabinet, Wasiu Olatunbosun, declared days before the March 2023 Governorship election that the people of the Oyo State won’t have a second thought in re-electing Engr. Makinde.
According to Olatunbosun, who was then the Commissioner for Information, the administration of Engr Makinde, which rests on four pillars, namely: Security, Infrastructure, Education and Economic Expansion through Agriculture, has performed creditably well in all the sectors.
“In fact, what the governor has done within three and half years of his administration is more than what some of his predecessors had done in the entire life of their administration.
At the inception of the administration in 2019, Engr. Makinde had encapsulated all his plans into a Roadmap to Accelerated Development in Oyo State 2019-2023 and by the end of his first term in office, he has successfully set the state on the path to sustainable development by boosting its economy from $14.4bn in 2019 to $23.8 billion as at the end of 2023.
Under his watch, Oyo State focused on economic development, job creation, and a better standard of living for all citizens. His policies have tripled the state’s internally generated revenue and brought about an economic resurgence.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Seyi Makinde’s reign as Governor is his successful efforts to attract investment from both Nigerian and international companies, with key investments coming from Dangote Group, Amara Technologies, and lots more. This has also been complemented by robust tax reforms to increase small business growth.
As a result of this investment in infrastructure and industry, the unemployment rate has reduced drastically over the past few years while employment opportunities have increased significantly. The government has also done well to invest in transportation networks to further improve Oyo State’s connectivity with other parts of Nigeria.
The impacts of Seyi Makinde’s good governance are felt everywhere in Oyo State and are undoubtedly driving long-term generational prosperity that continues to benefit its citizens today.
Seyi Makinde has improved the lives and easy of doing businesses in Oyo State through massive investment and turnkey projects in agribusiness, road networks in rural and urban areas as well as industrialization.
The University of Lagos trained Electrical Engineer is running a robust government and people centred government that has touched lives, changed the fortune of communities and built up infrastructures that has modernized the definition of governance in Oyo State.
Sampler: He completed and commissioned the 9.7 km Saki Township Road and the 5.2 km Gedu-Oroki-Sabo-Asipa road. The administration also handed over 100 operational vehicles to Oyo Amotekun to facilitate their operations.
Gov. Seyi Makinde lifted the embargo on the promotion of civil servants placed by the immediate past administration and also promoted civil servants.
In addition, he built and commissioned the Challenge and Ojoo Bus Terminals along with the Omituntun Buses, which laid the foundation of the new transport infrastructure in Oyo State. He also kept his promise by building commissioning the reconstructed Sasa Market.
Among others, he commissioned the renovated and re-equipped General Hospital, Tede in Atisbo Local Government Area, the 7.2 km Idi Ape-Basorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks Road dualisation project and the 65 metres General Gas Flyover constructed by his administration.
The administration also completed the recruitment and training of 500 additional Amotekun Corps personnel to deter crime and maintain public order in our state.
Makinde has emerged as a generational leader and figure of hope for his people and is a political figure to watch out for in the entire Nigeria nation.
By living up to his promises, bringing an unprecedented level of efficiency and transparency to the government, and setting a high standard of governance and accountability, he has earned the respect and trust of Nigerians across board. He is a governor passionate about the welfare of his people, a leader whose deeds and actions are inspiring many youths and future politicians, as well as his work to make life better for the citizens of Oyo State is exemplary.
For the above-mentioned qualities and many more not yet listed here, Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde earns the choice of the editorial board of National Infinity Magazine as Nigerian of The Year 2023.
