Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has restated the fact that there is no point sugar-coating the current state of hardship across the country, declaring that “things are hard.”
Je made the declaration in the No 111 edition of his bi-monthly newsletter, “The Business of Governance,” for the month of April, 2025.
The governor admitted that too many Nigerians were carrying exhausting burdens, occasioned by the rising cost of fuel prices, just as everyday essentials were getting out of reach for the people.
Governor Makinde however stated that, in spite of all odds, he was very sure that “tough times don’t last, but tough people do”, adding that “Nigerians are tough” and would weather through the storm of hard times.
“Fuel prices are rising again. Everyday essentials feel out of reach. I know that for many, each morning starts with a calculation of what can be stretched, what must be cut, what will have to wait. It’s an exhausting burden too many Nigerians are carrying.
“But in moments like this, I want to remind you of a simple but powerful truth: Tough times don’t last, but tough people do. And Nigerians are tough.
“We have survived military rule, made do with little, and turned scarcity into creativity. We have built dreams from dust and joy from the most unexpected places,” he stated.
Makinde further stated that his message was not to deny the pains of Nigerians or to pretend that grit alone will fix it all. “No! It is to remind us that even in the storm, we are not powerless.
“We are a people who know how to adapt. We know how to push through. We know how to hold on. And, more than that, we know how to look out for each other,” he added.
He also reassured that, on his own part, his administration would continue to look for ways to make things easier for people of Oyo State.
“In February 2025, Oyo State had the third lowest food inflation rate in the whole country. This can be linked to all the activities in the agricultural sector in the last year. We are working to ensure that this remains the norm, not the exception.
“To maintain the momentum, we are moving forward with our plan for a Rungis-style wholesale farmers’ market and another Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Ijaiye, Ibadan with a total area of 3,000 hectares.
“We will be meeting with the French authorities this April to finalise on the market,” he further disclosed.
Makinde added: “So, if you’re tired today, rest. But don’t lose heart. If you can, be kind. Be kind to yourself, and to others. It matters more than you think.
“And when it feels like you can’t see a way through, remember: there are still good people in this country. People working quietly in corners, creating solutions, building things, serving others. You are not alone.
“Let us choose faith over fear. Let us hold on to what makes us human: love, laughter, real hope. Let us continue to believe that better is possible, because it is.
“One day soon, this moment will pass. And when it does, may we be standing not just as survivors, but as a people who refused to give up on themselves, or on each other.
“We are strong. We will not be broken. Talk to you again soon.”
