OPINION: NIGERIA AT 60: The Need To Celebrate An Independence, Government And A New Dawn In Oyo State | Ibn Soliu

This year’s Independence day stands remarkable in the history of Nigeria: its governance, people, and democracy. We have toiled endlessly to engage and sustain efforts that will consolidate our independence. Although we have experienced the highs and lows in the journey, we remain resolute, as citizens, to ensure that our nation does not go into anarchy or division. This year’s October 1st represents a day when we celebrate the day we were given freedom and the day we were declared as an independent state, also it was a day to celebrate the achievements of our founding fathers, whose patriotism and commitment to the Nigerian state birthed our independence and exposed us to the essential elements of democracy and governance.

As we remember our country’s independence, there’s need for Oyo state citizens to celebrate an independent government and a new dawn brought to Oyo state by the people’s Governor, His Excellency Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde .

A resounding congratulations to the good people of Oyo State and to His Excellency, Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde to have succeeded an unbeatable political maradona who has undoubtedly set series of traps for GSM at all levels of Government and beyond.

Without sounding immodest, Seyi Makinde inherited a State in comatose from the constituted authority, but the good people of Oyo State are anxious of actions that will ameliorate their sufferings which made Ajimobi’s 8 years like a century in penury and seeming perpetual hopelessness.

It can not be gainsaid that Seyi Makinde’s governance is truly a reflection of what an independent and democratic state should be and the way it should be governed. He made available the programme of free education and the the task of wiping out illiteracy, universal health services and poverty alleviation, which are the cardinal principles of its policies.

Oyo State workers who lay the golden eggs for the government has not in anyway been starved the way his predecessor did in which he turned thousands of them to beggars by denying them a large portion of their earnings which made many of them to die untimely deaths. Fair remuneration to workers were very high on his priority scale. Seyi Makinde is a genuine friend of labour and this gave him a smooth ride with the Labor unions, because his government has been so considerate to the working class.

Governor Seyi Makinde is referred to as a fair and just governor due to the fact that, he spreads development across the five zone in Oyo state.

As aforementioned, Welfarism has been the cornerstone of Seyi Makinde’s government thus has become the central pivot of his policy and the core framework of his governance. He is seen today as a role model of leadership in western region of the country.

Seyi Makinde was not done, he believes a well- fed people could think, innovate and be happy. So he applied himself to agriculture as well. Having knew that most of his policies would remain on the drawing board unless he found a way to tame this monster and bend it to his will. Seyi Makinde did not hesitate to do so and his efforts paid off with huge dividends. His contemporaries saw that he is leading by example and they are emulating copying his outstanding governance style.

Since inception of Seyi Makinde’s administration, he has made available the programme of free education and the task of wiping out illiteracy among our teeming population, qualitative universal health services and poverty alleviation, which are the cardinal principles of his administration’s policies.
As earlier Mentioned, GSM is seen today as a role model for leadership in western region of the country and Nigeria at large.

Seyi Makinde’s administration is advancing to its destination like a locomotive train full of steam in which nothing can halt its progress until it discharged all the dividends of democracy and electoral promises in its locomotive wagons to the good people of Oyo State waiting at the train stations in every nook and cranny of the state to have their share because the people made a good choice of electing to office one of the most effective and efficient politicians who have improved the standard and quality of life of his people. The “Omituntun Igba Otun” has brought an independent and new dawn to pacesetter’s state.