Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has said his desire for a second term of office is hinged on his desire to ensure a sustainable development of the state.
This was as he said his administration has delivered on an accelerated development of the state in the last three and a half years.
He said this during a live interview session on a radio programme, Political Circuit, adding that his performance as the helmsman of the state within the period has justified his re-election bid.
The governor said, he deserved to be elected again by the people of the state, with the achievements recorded by his administration across the four service point areas of education, security, health and economic expansion through agribusiness and infrastructure.
Makinde, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, equally said, if re-elected in 2023, he would go on to deliver Omituntun 2.0, which he said centres on delivering sustainable development to the people.
He said: “When I was campaigning for election in 2018, I brought out a roadmap and promised the people that it was meant for accelerated development of Oyo State.
“Now, based on what we have experienced, we have brought another roadmap. But this time round, it is for sustainable development 2023-2027.”
Makinde said the administration has been able to deliver infrastructure that targeted its economic expansion programme as his government’s idea of infrastructure development has seen over 500 kilometres of road either completed or being constructed.
He maintained that, in line with its determination to boost the economy of the state, the government embarked on an effort to link all five zones of the state with quality road infrastructure.
He said: “All these zones have their uniqueness and what they are bringing to the table for the overall development of the state.
“So far, we have succeeded in linking Ibadan to Iseyin. We are linking Ogbomoso to Iseyin and we are linking Oke-Ogun to Igbo-Ora to Eruwa. And we are linking Eruwa to Ibadan.”
The governor said, when his performance is placed side by side with the records of the previous administration, which he said only rehabilitated a few intra-city roads, his government has performed well.
He said his government’s infrastructural initiatives included the 65-kilometres Moniya-Iseyin Road, while works are ongoing on Ogbomoso-Iseyin, Oyo-Iseyin, Beere-Ona Ara, Ajia-Airport Road with spur to Amuloko, Bembo-Apata roads and the dualisation of the Ibadan Airport Road, among others.
Makinde also explained how his administration has worked assiduously to expand the economy of the state by equippinging the Ibadan Airport with the building of a 500,000-litre Aviation Storage and Dispensing Facility.
The governor further said the administration has been able to improve the economy of the state through agribusiness.
He maintained that, through several policy initiatives and encouragement of a business environment that is agribusiness-friendly, the state has been able to attract massive investments.
These, he said, included the designation of the state as one of the Agro-Processing Zones by the African Development Bank (ADB) and the building of the second largest Sorbitol Plant in the world by Psaltery Ltd.
The governor noted that part of his administration’s success stories in the agriculture sector is the fact that the state had the lowest food inflation in the country for last year, pointing out how the government distributed improved seedlings to 10,000 farmers in the state.
“You must have also heard about the youths we sent to Nasarawa to learn about modern ways of doing agriculture. We have also collaborated with IITA on the STEM Programme.
“In terms of physical development, we have converted the Fasola Farm Settlement to a farm estate. Eruwa Farm Settlement is on the line as well.
“You see, gone are the days when the government will own businesses, but we can create an enabling environment.
“By November 2019, what we did was to link the Oke Ogun Area to Ibadan. We have fresh produce there, and people can easily move from the production area onward to city centres.
“We are also fixing Oyo-Iseyin Road. Though it is a federal road, because it hit at the heart of our agriculture, we are fixing it. How else can you provide an enabling environment other than creating such infrastructure?,” he asked.
On environment and waste management system Makinde said the government has continued to search for a sustainable solution to the age-long problems associated with the environment.
“We have not scored 100 per cent concerning waste management. It is an issue that has been with us. We will do the needful but it requires time.
“For us, if this administration tells you something is solved, it means it is solved. We have the template. We are mobilising.
“We have employed 300 environmental officers that will engage the people so that they can have the right mindset. The people need to change their attitude and when we meet in the middle, our problems will be less,” he added.
