Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, has restated his administration commitment to sustainaible development, strengthening institutions and entrench accountable governance saying that the state’s progress must not stall after his tenure
The governor spoke yesterday at a public lecture and symposium held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, as part of activities marking the Oyo State at 50 anniversary.
Addressing participants drawn from across the state, Makinde described the symposium as “a truly enlightening session,” noting that many of the issues raised were challenges his administration had encountered and, in several cases, addressed.
Reflecting on the Oyo at 50 celebrations, the governor said the events were fundamentally about the people and their heritage.
“They came out to celebrate their communities and their heritage. Perhaps the next celebration will be when I turn sixty, by that time, I will no longer be Governor,” he said.
Makinde used the occasion to recount the origin of his administration’s development roadmap, explaining that it emerged from the need to build public trust and institutionalise accountability.
“Initially, I was preparing a roadmap to serve the people of our state. At the time, I did not anticipate that I would need to release it before the election, nor did I expect to openly invite the public to hold me accountable to it,” he said.
He recalled his 2015 governorship bid, during which voters repeatedly told him that “your time is 2019,” an experience that ultimately shaped his approach in the subsequent election cycle.
“So when I began campaigning again for 2019, people asked, ‘Can we trust you?’ At that point, I decided to put the roadmap together, release it publicly, and ask the people to hold me accountable on the basis of that document,” Makinde explained.
According to the governor, the first roadmap for accelerated development covered the period 2019 to 2023 and was implemented faithfully by his administration.
That, he said, laid the foundation for a second roadmap for sustainable development from 2023 to 2027.
“In that document, we reviewed the first roadmap and reported back to the people. We found that we had achieved over 75 per cent of the commitments we made,” he said.
Makinde disclosed that preparations had already begun for a third roadmap that would outline development plans for Oyo State from 2027 and beyond, with a fifty-year outlook.
“Once completed, it will be circulated publicly. Whenever the people ask for a roadmap, I am ready to present one and to be held accountable for it,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of public trust, the governor said governance must be responsive to citizens’ expectations.
“One thing I have learnt is that you cannot take the people for granted. They want continuity; they do not want progress to stop,” he said, adding that the large turnout at the Oyo at 50 carnival conveyed a clear message, “We hope the music will continue.”
Makinde also underscored the centrality of strong institutions to democratic governance, arguing that decisive leadership must be complemented by durable structures.
“Yes, we want strong and decisive leadership—leaders who can take difficult decisions and stand by them. But we also want leadership that is supported by strong institutions,” he said.
The governor listed institutions established by his administration to safeguard good governance, including the State Anti-Corruption Agency, the Rule of Law Agency and the Anti–Land Grabbing Agency.
He, however, said the State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development was particularly significant, adding that: “Among all the institutions we have created so far, the one I cherish the most is the State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development.”
The governor further explained the rationale behind the creation of the New Towns and Cities Development Authority, stressing the need for urban spaces in the state that meet global standards.
Using the University of Ibadan campus as an example, he said: “Here, you have a central power system, central water supply, fibre-optic communication infrastructure, and, importantly, a central sewage system.”
“A true first-world environment requires such systems as a standard,” Makinde said, warning against reliance on septic tanks, which he noted could contaminate groundwater. We have been fortunate not to experience a cholera outbreak, but that should not be our benchmark,” he added.
Makinde said the mobilisation agency was designed to unite citizens in expanding the state’s economy and driving socio-economic development, while also encouraging constructive criticism.
“I value honest feedback. I prefer to be told when I am wrong and to be challenged. That is the essence of constitutional democracy, even if it means progress can be slower,” he said.
The governor declared that Oyo State had moved away from patronage-based governance in favour of meritocracy.
“Decisions are no longer made on the basis of familiarity or influence,” he said, citing the appointment of a symposium panellist as an example.
“That appointment was not the result of lobbying; it was based purely on merit. This is the system we are institutionalising, a merit-based system that places the right people in the right positions,” Makinde said.
Ends
