Being the Speech by His Excellency Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, at the 2022 Inter-Faith Service to Usher in the New Year on Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Did you have an exceptional year in 2021?
As I mentioned recently, every year that we cross December and find ourselves in the land of the living in January is indeed an exceptional year.
So, did you have an exceptional year 2021?
All of us gathered here today for this inter-faith service have every cause to give honour and glory to God. This is the third time since we came into office that we are having this type of service. And this is the last but one for this our current tenure.
Every year, since we started, they will say, he paid salaries, pensions and gratuities last year, let’s see whether he will not owe next year. But God has been faithful, every year we have answered them, not this year, try again next year.
In fact, last December they were hoping that we will not pay the 13th-month salary. They could not even wait for the holiday to be over before they went to town with stories. Did you get your 13th-month salary or did you not get it?
The year 2021 was an exceptional year in Oyo State as we continued to keep our promises to our people.
Yes, we are not exactly where we should be, but we are steadily moving in the right direction.
I remember just a few months into our administration they were saying everything is audio, then they moved to, “When will he start and finish any project?” But today, we have answered all their questions.
The audio has turned to visuals and the “When will he start his own project” gang have gone mute.
Let me just mention a few of the projects that we used to shut them up.
The 65km Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin road done and dusted
Remodelling of Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan (Phase 1) done and dusted
Rehabilitation of OYSADA Headquarters and Chalets done and dusted
Dualisation of 9.7km Saki Township Road done and dusted
Reconstruction of Akesan Market done and dusted
Upgrade of the Oyo State Secretariat Staff Clinic done and dusted
Last year, we promised that we would clear the backlog of outstanding promotions of civil servants from 2016, and give deserving civil servants the opportunity to be promoted to Grade Level 17. Did we keep that promise?
You have my word; we will continue to prioritise the welfare of the civil servants in Oyo State until we leave office.
This 2022 we will be commissioning more projects as we further reduce the infrastructural deficit of our state.
Are you looking forward to the commissioning of:
The four bus terminals at Iwo Road, New Ife Road, Challenge and Ojoo in Ibadan?
The Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub at Fasola, Oyo West Local Government Area?
The 21km Airport- Ajia-New Ife Express Road with a spur to Amuloko?
The 12km Apete-Awotan-Akufo road?
The 12.5km dualisation of Challenge-Odo Ona Elewe-Apata Road?
What about the remodelling of Lekan Salami Sports Complex (Phase 2)?
As usual, we are expecting challenges in 2022. Remember, the coronavirus disease is still with us. But we will continue to address these challenges as they come. We have flagged off the Mass COVID-19 Vaccination. Please go and get vaccinated. It is free and it is safe.
Let me thank you all once more for the support that you are giving us. It is this support that is enabling us to continue to serve you. We will continue to put your interests first in everything we do. This is our promise and we remain committed to it.
I also want to use this opportunity to remind all here present that it is little drops of water that make an ocean. We must all continue to play our part to ensure that Oyo State remains on the path of sustainable development.
As you begin this year, 2022, I present to you the same question we have asked every year since we assumed office: in what way will you be a better person at your job this year? We all should ask ourselves this question. It is having this honest self-appraisal and acting on it that will make our 2022 better than 2021.
I wish you God’s blessings and a productive year 2022.
~ Seyi Makinde, January 12, 2022