By BISI EZEKIEL

Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, the youthful and energetic second term Executive Governor of Oyo State, has redefined governance at the state level with strings of achievements in all sectors of human endeavour.

During his first term of four years, he laid the foundation and built a new phase of governance which justifies the wide endorsement of his election in 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the good people of Oyo State.

Dethroning All Progressives Congress (APC) administration after the eight years of late Chief Abiola Ajimobi was a great feat earned by the love and eagerness of the people to have Makinde in the saddle.

He worked hard within the first term to ensure he did not betray the trust the people of Oyo State had in him.

Gov. Makinde laid the foundation for a result-oriented government with the calibre of appointments he made. He brought into his administration technocrats who added value to governance. He did not give political patronage to mediocres.

Like the proverbial child who was able to eat with the elders simply because he knows how to wash his hands, Makinde widely consulted past political gladiators irrespective of political affiliations and he combined ideas, knowledge and wisdom to build a formidable team which helped him to deliver on his pre-election promises to the electorate.

Achievements made in the first term no doubt spurred the people of Oyo State to overwhelmingly vote him for a second and last term.

This decision was to allow him complete the good works he started and also open up new vistas in governance.

Almost two years into the second term, Gov. Makinde has proved bookmakers right that he is a performer.

While many other state governors still dilly dally on the issue of N70,000 minimum wage for workers, the ever responsive Governor Makinde has approved the payment for civil servantsin Oyo State. This will be an icing on the cake for workers in the state as the government has proved itself to be “a workers friendly” government.

Gov. Makinde in his nostalgic wish to turn the entire three senatorial districts in the state to construction sites, embarked on the construction of theEast End Wing of the 110km Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Ring.

His government has completed and commissionedthe dualised 12.5km Challenge-Odo Ona Elewe-Elebu-Apata Road in Ibadan, commissioned thedualised 8.2km Agodi Gate-Old Ife Road-Alakia-Adegbayi Road, including the Underpass Bridge at the Onipepeye area of Ibadan, as well as commissioned the 10.3km Iddo-Omi Adio Road. TheOlodo Bridge is being constructed to replace the old bridge.

In Ogbomoso, Governor Seyi Makinde commissioned the 76.67km Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road (now renamed the Adebayo Alao-Akala Memorial Highway).

His government also constructed eight feeder roads in Ibadan totaling 38.48km

It equally got the Federal Government’s attention for upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan.

Makinde recently commissioned the Local Government Service Commission and Staff Pension Board Buildings in Ibadan.

Also, recently the Governor handed over 100 operational vehicles equipped with communication gadgets to security agencies in Oyo State in his determined efforts to make the state safe and inhabitable for all and sundry.

The Makinde government equally handed over 28 18-seater buses to Federal, State, Indigenous and Special Education institutions in Oyo State

Not to be left out are the Solarised PSA Medical Oxygen Plant and Level 2 Newborn Unit at the Jericho Specialist Hospital commissioned by Governor Makinde.

These are a few out of the many giant strides by the Makinde administration and more are currently ongoing while a lot are to be unveiled soonest.

However, the Action Governor has promised that “no project initiated by my administration will be left uncompleted at the expiration of my tenure in office in 2027”.

•Bisi Ezekiel is a developmental journalist and public affairs analyst.