Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that the state has come a long way and its achievements over the last 50 years should be celebrated.
He noted that the state has grown and is well-matured for the 50th celebration, as 50 years is a major milestone in the life of an individual, an institution or a state.
Makinde explained that the objective of the anniversary is to showcase the achievements of the state across different sectors in the past 50 years.
He said these while inaugurating the 11-member Oyo State at 50 Anniversary Planning Committee at the Governor’s Office, on Wednesday.
Governor Makinde said his administration would continue to appoint people that can assist in moving the state forward, irrespective of their political parties.
The committee has a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Saheed Akinade Fijabi (Chairman); a former Oyo State Head of Service, Alhaja Ololade Agboola (Deputy Chairman) and Mrs Ronke Adedayo (Secretary).
Other members of the committee are Dr Z.O Ajuwon (OON); Mr Mustapha Rasaq Areo; Alhaja Fatimah Ololade Azeez; Mr S.A. Adejumo; Pastor John Olasunkanmi Alabi; Alhaji Gafar Bello; Compol Fatai Owoseni (rtd) and Mr Samuel Adegboyega Badejo.
Makinde said: “Let me first of all welcome the members of the committee to be inaugurated and also to recognise the fact that all the arms of the Government of the Oyo State are here — the Executive, the Legislative and also the Judiciary.
“So, even though Oyo State at 50 is going to be led by the Executive, this celebration is for all of us.
“Fifty years is a major milestone, whether it is in the life of an individual, a state or an institution. When you get to 50, you shouldn’t misbehave.
“So, I believe that it calls for celebration and we want to encourage the committee to please, even in the face of challenges that we are faced with as a nation, roll out the drums. Let us celebrate the major milestone of our state.
“From the composition, you will see that there is no PDP or APC. We don’t do that here in Oyo State. Look at the chairman of this committee, we fought in 2019 and we defeated him then.
“But when we want to do anything for the state, wherever we can get people that can help, we will go for them, whether they are in APC, PDP or whatever.
“People can be in any political party. Parties will come and go but our state will remain. So, that is the point that we always want to prove in Oyo State. We go for the best in Oyo State. That is our state for you.
“And also, the Deputy Chairman, she used to sit here as the Head of Service. But when you retire and you are not tired, what do we do?
“When we need you, we have to call you back. So, I am glad that you’re not tired and we pray for strength for you and many, many more years in the service of our state and nation.”
Makinde charged the members of the committee to reach out to leaders that have governed and served the state in the past, who are still alive or reach out to their surviving families.
He equally tasked the committee to reach out to people that have made sacrifices for the state and those that have made Oyo State great.
The governor also urged members of the committee to also recognise and appreciate those that are still rendering their services to the development of the state.
“We must use this opportunity to look at leaders that have governed the state before, if they are alive, we reach out to them. If they are not, we reach out to their spouses or surviving members of their families.
“We want to recognise them, we want to appreciate them, and we also want to give a token of reward to them for what they have done.
“People would notice that, even in the heat of the campaign that brought this administration in 2018/2019, we didn’t go about to tell people that a particular administration didn’t do this or that.
“Every administration will have its own set of challenges. What we face as an administration will be different from what the next administration will face as its own set of challenges.
“People may want to criticise and say, ‘Ah, okay, if these people had done certain things, maybe we would not have been where we are.’ It is possible but they have put in their best within the situation they found themselves.
“The most important thing is that we want to recognise past leaders, people that have made sacrifices for this state.
“And, we also want to scan the horizon; wherever we have seen state leaders that have made the state proud, please, search for them and bring them up for recognition.
“So, please, it’ is important. We want to showcase what the state has been able to achieve in 50 years, and we also want to say thank you to the people that made it happen.”
In attendance at the event were the wife of a former governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former deputy governor and PDP National Deputy Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former Deputy Governor Hamid Gbadamosi; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Mohammed Fadeyi;
Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima, represented by Justice M.O Olagunju; Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, mni; Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Kazim Adeyinka Adeniyi; and commissioners.
Others included the Senior Executive Assistant to the Governor (General Duties), Chief Bayo Lawal; chairman of the Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun and chairman of Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon. Sikiru Oyedele Sanda.
