Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that his administration has been able to deliver accelerated development to the state in the last three and a half years, adding that his performance justifies his re-election bid.
The governor stated this on Saturday, during a live interview session on Fresh FM 105.9’s flagship programme, Political Circuit, stating that with the achievements recorded by the administration across the four service point areas of education, security, health and economic expansion through agribusiness and infrastructure, he deserved to be re-elected by the people of the state.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as equally saying that if re-elected in 2023, he would go on to deliver Omituntun 2.0, which he said would centre on delivering sustainable development to the people of the state.
He said: “When I was campaigning for election in 2018, I brought out a roadmap and promised the people that it was meant for accelerated development of Oyo State. Now, based on what we have experienced, we have brought another roadmap, but this time round, it is for sustainable development 2023-2027.”
Speaking on how the administration has been able to deliver infrastructure that targets its economic expansion programme, Makinde said that his government’s idea of infrastructure development has seen over 500 kilometres of road either completed or being constructed.
He maintained that in line with its determination to boost the economy of the state, the government embarked on an effort to link all five zones of the state with quality road infrastructure, saying: “All these zones have their uniqueness and what they are bringing to the table for the overall development of the state.
“So far, we have succeeded in linking Ibadan to Iseyin. We are linking Ogbomoso to Iseyin and we are linking Oke-Ogun to Igbo-Ora to Eruwa. And we are linking Eruwa to Ibadan.”
The governor said that when his performance is placed side by side with the records of the previous administration, which he said only rehabilitated a few intra-city roads, his government has performed well.
He listed his government’s infrastructural initiatives to include the 65-kilometres Moniya-Iseyin Road, while he said works are ongoing on Ogbomoso-Iseyin, Oyo-Iseyin, Beere-Ona Ara, Ajia-Airport Road with spur to Amuloko, Bembo-Apata roads and the dualisation of the Airport Road, among others.
The governor equally explained how his administration has worked assiduously to expand the economy of the state by improving the Ibadan Airport, with the building of a 500,000 litres Aviation Storage and Dispensing Facility.
Speaking further on how the administration has been able to improve the economy of the state through agribusiness, the governor maintained that through several policy initiatives and encouragement of a business environment that is agribusiness-friendly, the state has been able to attract massive investments including the designation of the state as one of the Agro-processing Zones by the African Development Bank and the building of the second largest Sorbitol Plant in the world by Psaltery Ltd.
The governor equally noted that part of his administration’s success stories in the agriculture sector is the fact that the state had the lowest food inflation in the country for last year, pointing out how the government distributed improved seedlings to 10,000 farmers in the state.
“You must have also heard about the youths we sent to Nasarawa to learn about modern ways of doing agriculture. We have also collaborated with IITA on the STEM programme.
“In terms of physical development, we have converted the Fasola Farm Settlement to a farm estate. Eruwa Farm Settlement is on the line as well. You see, gone are the days when the government will own businesses, but we can create an enabling environment.
“By November 2019, what we did was to link the Oke Ogun area to Ibadan. We have fresh produce there, and people can easily move from the production area onward to city centres. We are also fixing Oyo-Iseyin Road. Though it is a federal road, because it hit at the heart of our agriculture, we are fixing it. How else can you provide an enabling environment other than creating such infrastructure?”
In the area of education, Governor Makinde said his administration has been working on upgrading the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo to a degree-awarding institution and that it has been able to put together all documentations, though it had been facing sabotage from some elements within the institution.
The governor assured that the state will get the NUC approval for the upgrade of the institution anytime soon.
The governor, who also used the opportunity to address questions on the environment and waste management system said the government has continued to search for a sustainable solution to the age-long problems associated with the environment.
“We have not scored 100 per cent concerning waste management. It is an issue that has been with us. We will do the needful but it requires time. For us, if this administration tells you something is solved, it means it is solved.
“We have the template. We are mobilising. We have employed 300 environmental officers that will engage the people so that they can have the right mindset. The people need to change their attitude and when we meet in the middle, our problems will be less.”
Speaking further on the issue of environment, Governor Makinde said that the administration would find a lasting solution to the issue of street beggars by moving them to one of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps in the state.
When asked about the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the national level, which has seen him and four other PDP governors boycott the campaign activities of the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Governor Makinde said he would only support Atiku if the party does the needful, as according to him, the party must demonstrate that it can ensure fairness and justice within its system before seeking to implement same on the nation.
