The Oyo State Governor in South-West Nigeria, Seyi Makinde, has expressed gratitude to the people of Oyo State for the privilege to serve them in the last 43 months, stating that the last three years and seven months have been a testament of his commitment to serving the people.
The governor, who stated this in his New Year message to the people of the state, which was made available to newsmen on Sunday, noted that he did not take the support given to his administration over the years for granted.
My good people of Oyo State,
As the end of my first tenure as your Governor draws close, I must express my deepest gratitude to you, the good people of Oyo State, for this privilege to serve you.
Full address https://t.co/ESNgROqU58 pic.twitter.com/5SODkjJ7Xi— Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) January 1, 2023
He said: “Without your mandate and support, we would not have succeeded in placing our dear state on the path to sustainable development. All the work we did under the Roadmap to Accelerated Development in Oyo State 2019-2023, was leading up to this moment.”
Makinde, who maintained that his administration had been able to prove to the people that it is possible to focus on infrastructural development, while at the same time meeting other obligations to the people, expressed confidence that he would be re-elected for another term of four years on March 11, 2023, saying his administration had been able to place the state on the path of sustainable development.
He recounted some of the successes recorded by his government in different sectors as infrastructure development, health, education, security and economic expansion, among others.
“In the first quarter of 2022, we completed and commissioned the 9.7 km Saki Township Road and the 5.2 km Gedu-Oroki-Sabo-Asipa Road. By the second quarter, we handed over 100 operational vehicles to Oyo Amotekun to facilitate their operations. We also removed the embargo on the promotion of civil servants placed by the past administration and promoted civil servants,” Governor Makinde recalled.
Further on civil service welfare, the governor explained how the administration had effected the payment of the 13th month salaries of civil servants for the fourth consecutive year and given Christmas bonuses to pensioners, noting that the recruitment of 500 additional personnel into the Oyo State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps, are some other successes of the administration.
He stated: “Additionally, we commissioned the Challenge and Ojoo Bus Terminals along with the Omituntun Buses, the foundation of a new transport infrastructure in Oyo State. We also kept our promise by commissioning the reconstructed Sasa Market.
“By quarter three of 2022, we commissioned the renovated and 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 metre General Gas Flyover constructed by our administration,” Makinde disclosed.
Governor Makinde also expressed his pleasure at how his administration was able to ensure the upgrading of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, into a University of Education, saying his administration had shown empathy in decision-making and its policies had always been ‘people first’ because the people of Oyo State are the most important stakeholders in governance.
He stated: “We may not always get it right, but we have always accepted our errors and made amends where possible. We have listened to and learnt from you, so we confidently return to you and ask for a second term. We know that come March 11, 2023, you will vote for Omituntun 2.0. We look forward to an exciting year ahead!”
The governor prayed that 2023 would be the year his administration would install sustainable development in Oyo State and wished all citizens a rewarding and fulfilling 2023.
