The leadership of the 10th Senate of the National Assembly must be elected, based on the principles of fairness, justice and equity.
Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, said this at a post-inauguration special thanksgiving service organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Fathers of Faith.
The special thanksgiving service, held on Monday at Oritamefa Baptist Church, Ibadan, was to commemorate the second term of office of Governor Makinde.
The governor said he will be on ground in Abuja to witness the process of electing the leadership of the 10th Senate, tomorrow (Tuesday).
The governor said: “We already have a president that is of Islamic faith. We have a vice president that is of Islamic faith. Number three is going to be the Senate President.
“And what we are saying across party lines, I am saying it publicly. All the governors in Nigeria came together and we said we will support the choice of the president who is a Christian from the South-South region of Nigeria.
“We are not playing religious politics, but what is fair is fair. We stood for southern presidency. We will stand for justice. We stood for fairness and we are going to stand for equity as well.
“So, I will be at the National Assembly tomorrow, even though I wasn’t elected as a senator and I have never been elected as one. I will be there in the Senate with my other colleagues.
“We will go and ensure that the principle of fairness, justice and equity prevails in the selection of the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
On his re-election, Makinde said in a statement by his media aides, Mr Sulaimon Olanrewaju: “The election is a motivation to rededicate myself for the service of the state.”
The governor appreciated the people of the state for electing him for another term of four years, and promised not to let them down.
He thanked the Christian community in the state for organising the thanksgiving service.
“The work you have given to me is actually not from 2023 to 2027 because we will put Oyo State on the path to sustainable development between 2023 and 2027.
“But the work you have given to me is targeting 2027 and beyond.
“So, I am going to do my best in carrying the people of Oyo State along. We already have the roadmap for sustainable development,” he said.
The governor also disclosed that the Oyo State House of Assembly would be proclaimed on Wednesday.
“From that point, we can move really fast, make the appointments and get people to start working for Oyo State. I am sure we won’t disappoint God and you,” he said.
Earlier in his sermon, Oyo State CAN chairman, Apostle (Dr) Joshua Akinyemiju, said the gathering was to appreciate God and worship him on account of the governor’s electoral victory.
He said: “Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde is a political apostle and a covenant child of God who brought accountability and probity to the governance of Oyo State.
“That Governor Makinde is an assiduous, tenacious, unflinching and heterogeneous entity is not a subject of debate.
“He has a gallant and indomitable spirit to succeed in any venture he sets his hand and mind upon, while relying solely on the omnipotent God.
“This governor is a reformed reformer who has moved Oyo State from poverty to prosperity within a short period of time,” Apostle Akinyemi said.
The cleric also enjoined the Christian community in the state to continue to uphold Governor Makinde in prayers.
