Governor Seyi Makinde’s Remarks at the Official Flag-Off of the Asphaltic Reconstruction/Rehabilitation/Expansion of the Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo Road

Being the remarks by His Excellency Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State at the Official Flag-Off of the Asphaltic Reconstruction/Rehabilitation/Expansion of the Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo Road, on Thursday, October 27, 2022.

Today, I want to talk to you about the word “revolution”.

I know, when people hear the word revolution, they often think of bloody wars that lead to change in a political order. Well, don’t be alarmed, I am not here to preach violence. Rather, I am here to talk about a different kind of revolution that is happening in the south west of Nigeria but ably led by my brother, Governor Oyetola and myself.  

You know, revolutions always bring to birth a new order, a new way of doing things. And so, the revolution in the south west has led to us changing the former ways of doing things. In the past, every state used to mind their own business and operate in their own little corners. But with this new way of doing things, we are pursuing collaborations with our sister states.

When we just came in, we started on this path with one of the biggest collaborations in the history of south west states. We all came together and decided on creating the Western Nigeria Security Network code named Amotekun. And in 2020, we operationalised the Oyo-Amotekun. As I have said on many occasions, our people cannot imagine life without Amotekun.

Also, just about two years ago, we celebrated another win that resulted from this revolution. My brother, our host for this flag-off, His Excellency Gboyega Oyetola, the Executive Governor of Osun State, was a big part of that history. He benevolently acceded to granting us sole ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), which made it possible for me to fulfill a campaign promise to the good people of Oyo State.

Let me once again use this opportunity to say thank you, egbon.

Additionally, earlier this year, just over six months ago, we had a handshake with my brother from Ogun State, His Excellency Dapo Abiodun. You will recall that we held a joint security meeting over rising security threats at that time. Together, we worked on securing the lives and properties of our people at border communities of our states. Since that collaboration, reports of kidnappings in that axis have drastically reduced.

Today, I am joining His Excellency Gboyega Oyetola, and together we are again, making history. This time, as jointly agreed, we will be linking our dear states with a road project. And so, another milestone of collaboration is reached with this flagging off of the asphaltic reconstruction, rehabilitation and expansion of the Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road.

Well, coming from Oyo State, you would say Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo Road. Don’t be confused, it’s the same road. It’s just a matter of direction.

I need to acknowledge also that we have both demonstrated that politics should be left to those few months when INEC says we should begin campaigning either for elections or re-election. Even then, just as my egbon has demonstrated, we must practice politics of justice and fairness without bitterness and rancour.

The revolution we are leading is a revolution of thought, it is a revolution of ideas. And we are saying, governance must always trump politics. When we make decisions, we must always put the interests of our people first.

Of course, you already know that my brother, the Governor of Osun State is from an opposing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), while I belong to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Despite this difference, we have accomplished things that people from the same party were unable to do. This is the revolution we are talking about.

This latest collaboration also comes with dividends of good governance.

When this road is completed, our people will be able to travel with more ease between the states thereby enhancing trade and commerce. And as we always say in Oyo State, where roads go, development follows. So, in the next year or thereabouts, we will begin to see the development in real terms.

I know we are not here to campaign, but there is a prophetic word from my brother and I know that Oyo State people are ready for Omituntun 2.0. So, we will allow God’s will to be done.

And on this note we will proceed to flag-off the entire stretch of Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road to the glory of the Almighty God and for the benefit of the good people of Osun and Oyo States.

Thank you and God bless you.

Seyi Makinde

October 27, 2022